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THE  WHITE  SLAVE  TRAFFIC 
IN  AMERICA 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 
in  America 


BY 

O.  EDWARDJANNEY,  M.  D. 

Chairman  of  the  National  Vigilance  Committee  for  the 
Suppression  of  the  fVhite  Slave  Traffic 


Published  by  the 
NATIONAL  VIGILANCE  COMMITTEE 
156  Fifth  Avenue 
New  York  City 


Copyright,  1911,  by 
O.  Edward  Janney,  M.  d. 


Sori  (^afttmort  (preea 

BALTIMORE,  MD.,  V.  S.  A. 


FOREWORD 

There  seems  to  be  need  for  a description 
of  the  white  slave  traffic  in  this  country,  and 
for  some  account  of  the  movement  that  has 
arisen  for  its  suppression,  together  with  a dis- 
cussion of  the  methods  that  may  be  employed 
to  accomplish  that  end. 

There  are  multitudes  of  parents,  teachers 
and  other  persons  having  charge  of  young 
people,  who  are  unaware  of  the  dangers  that 
threaten  young  women  through  the  adroit 
agents  of  this  traffic.  These  need  to  be  in- 
formed. 

There  are  many  social  workers  who  should 
know  the  facts  herein  related,  and  have  pre- 
sented to  them  methods  by  means  of  which 
they  may  assist  in  the  suppression  of  the  evil. 

There  are  many  others  who  if  they  knew 
and  understood  the  facts  would  offer  moral 
and  financial  support  to  a movement  to  prevent 
the  moral  and  economic  loss  which  the  com- 


5 


Foreword 


munity  now  sustains  through  the  operations  of 
the  white  slave  trafficker. 

And  finally,  there  are  those  who,  in  bondage 
and  suffering  too  acute  for  words,  make  their 
pitiful  appeal  for  help,  for  freedom  and  for 
sympathy. 

The  facts  herein  stated  are  offered  for  seri- 
ous consideration.  They  are  thus  presented  in 
order  that  the  innocent  may  be  protected,  the 
ignorant  enlightened,  the  foolish  and  reckless 
warned,  the  weak  safeguarded,  the  wicked  and 
designing  thwarted,  and  the  traffic  suppressed. 


6 


CONTENTS 

PART  I 

The  White  Slave  Traffic 

PAGE 

I.  The  Traffic  13 

II.  How  Girls  are  Kept  in  Slavery 35 

III.  Woman  Slavery  on  the  Pacific  Coast. . 41 

IV.  The  Traffic  and  Public  Health 52 

V.  The  New  York  White  Slave  Grand 

Jury  55 

PART  II 

The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 

VI.  The  Underlying  Causes 79 

VII.  The  Wrong  Training  of  Children 83 

VIH.  The  Dangers  of  the  City 87 

IX.  Hard  Times  and  Low  Wages 93 

X.  Amusements  97 

XL  Employment  Agencies  102 

XII.  Tolerated  Vice  in  Cities 104 

XIII.  Immigration  and  the  Traffic 106 

XIV.  Steerage  Conditions  109 

PART  HI 

The  Suppression  and  Prevention  of  the  Traffic 

XV.  The  Vigilance  Movement 122 

XVI.  Activity  of  the  Government — The  States  134 

XVII.  An  International  Treaty 142 


7 


Contents 


PAGE 

XVIII.  Immigration — Improved  Methods  ....  145 

XIX.  Politics  and  Vice 147 

XX.  A Living  Wage 156 

XXL  Healthful  Recreations  159 

Appendix  163 


8 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in 
America 


INTRODUCTION 

The  purpose  of  this  book  is  to  assist  in 
arousing  our  Nation  to  the  facts  of  the  traffic 
in  women,  in  the  belief  that  when  it  is  under- 
stood, the  American  people  will  arise  and  sup- 
press it. 

Were  an  epidemic  to  invade  our  country 
and  carry  off  many  thousands  of  victims, 
means  would  be  at  once  energetically  used  to 
check  it,  and  the  whole  power  of  State  and 
National  government  would  be  employed  to 
effect  this.  There  is  in  our  midst,  constantly 
operating,  a plague  of  evil  which  invades 
homes  and  destroys  the  peace,  health,  honor, 
liberty  and  life  of  many  thousand  young 
women.  Shall  we  not  stamp  this  out  also? 


9 


Introduction 


But  we  cannot  proceed  in  the  darkness.  The 
facts  must  first  be  made  known,  and  our  pur- 
pose is  to  describe  the  situation  so  that  intelli- 
gent action  may  be  taken.  The  truth  must  be 
told  in  as  chaste  and  tactful  a way  as  possible, 
but  also  in  such  plain  words  as  not  to  be  mis- 
understood. 

It  is  our  earnest  desire  that  each  one  who 
hears  this  message  will  receive  it  in  a spirit 
free  from  criticism,  and,  realizing  the  motives 
that  have  prompted  the  labor  entailed,  be  will- 
ing to  learn  the  truth  in  order  that  the  white 
slave  traffic  in  America  may  be  abolished  and 
the  conditions  that  give  rise  to  it  corrected. 


10 


Part  I 

THE  WHITE  SLAVE  TRAFFIC 


THE  WHITE  SLAVE  TRAFFIC 


I 

The  Traffic 

The  white  slave  traffic  is  the  widely  ac- 
cepted term  for  the  procuring,  selling  or  buy- 
ing of  women  with  the  intention  of  holding  or 
forcing  them  into  a life  of  prostitution.  The 
term  is  not  fairly  descriptive,  since  the  traffic 
reaches  to  every  race  and  color,  originating  in 
Europe,  where  its  victims  are  white,  but  it  is 
generally  used  to  designate  the  system  by 
which  vice  markets  are  kept  supplied. 

This  business  has  become  established  in 
America.  It  is  more  or  less  clandestinely  but 
extensively  carried  on  in  the  United  States, 
where  some  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  un- 
scrupulous traders  have  harvested  large  profits 
from  a sort  of  brokerage  system  of  trafficking 
in  women.  It  is  a business  carried  on  for 


2 


13 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


profit.  Those  who  make  money  from  white 
slavery  are : 

1st.  The  procurer — the  person  who  induces 
a girl,  by  whatever  means,  to  enter  a house 
of  vice,  or  to  earn  her  living  by  leading  an 
immoral  life. 

2d.  The  importer  or  exporter — one  who 
takes  a girl  to  such  destination  or  assumes  the 
responsibility  of  getting  her  from  one  place  to 
another  for  such  a purpose. 

3d.  The  keeper  of  the  house,  and  the  man 
who  wholly  or  in  part  lives  on  the  immoral 
earnings  of  one  or  more  girls  or  women. 

The  trader  may  employ  agents  to  procure 
and  transport  victims,  or  he  may  act  as  his 
own  agent,  but  in  either  case  his  motive  is 
the  financial  profit  to  be  made  from  the  pro- 
ceeds of  white  slavery. 

“ It  is  obvious  that  the  qualities  required 
for  the  securing  of  these  profits  are  the  daring 
and  shrewdness  of  the  criminal  rather  than  the 
energjf  and  industry  necessary  for  success  in 
legitimate  business,”  says  the  report  of  the 


14 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


Immigration  Commission  appointed  to  investi- 
gate the  traffic  in  alien  women  brought  to  the 
United  States  for  immoral  pm'poses. 

The  human  chattels  of  these  traffickers  are 
practically  slaves,  for  the  girls  and  women 
who  are  lured,  deceived  through  affection,  or 
in  some  instances  forced  into  prostitution,  are 
held  in  bondage  by  subtle  but  compelling 
means.  Whether  the  victim  is  confined  be- 
hind closed  doors,  or  is  allowed  to  go  out 
under  close  watch,  or  kept  in  submission  by 
fear  of  personal  violence,  she  is,  under  any 
of  these  conditions,  a slave — one  forced  to  do 
her  master’s  bidding  and  obliged  to  give  to 
him  the  money  she  receives. 

Most  pitiful  for  the  women,  and  most  brutal  on 
the  part  of  the  men,  are  the  methods  employed  for 
exploiting  these  women  imported  contrary  to  law, 
both  those  coming  willingly  to  lead  a vicious  life  and 
those  lured  into  the  country  as  innocent  girls  by 
deception  and  by  their  affections.  With  rare  excep- 
tions, not  only  the  innocent  women  imported  into  this 
country,  but  the  prostitutes  as  well,  are  associated 
with  men  whose  business  it  is  to  protect  them,  direct 
them,  and  control  them,  and  vv^ho  frequently,  if  not 
usually,  make  it  their  business  to  plunder  them  un- 


15 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


mercifully.  ...  If  she  resists  she  finds  all  the  men 
about  her  leagued  against  her;  she  may  be  beaten; 
and  in  some  cases  where  she  has  betrayed  her  be- 
trayer she  has  been  murdered.* 

Supply  and  demand,  factors  in  every  sort  of 
commerce,  play  their  part  in  the  white  slave 
traffic.  When  there  is  demand  for  young 
girls,  artful  traders  know  where  and  how  they 
can  be  procured,  and  nets  are  laid  for  unwary 
feet.  All  sorts  of  cunning  devices  are  re- 
sorted to  by  the  agents  of  this  miserable  busi- 
ness to  lure  girls  into  an  immoral  life.  The 
procurer  may  be  a woman,  who  often  appears 
in  the  guise  of  a fascinating  friend,  and  too 
easily  gains  the  confidence  of  the  unwary  and 
confiding.  Offers  of  attractive  and  easy  em- 
ployment at  a distance,  at  high  wages,  are 
frequently  the  bait  used  to  entrap  the  \’ictim, 
who,  once  in  a house  of  vice,  finds  it  extremely 
difficult  to  escape,  or  to  make  her  terrible 
plight  known  to  her  friends. 

Those  who  recruit  women  for  immoral  purposes 
watch  all  places  where  young  women  are  likely  to 


* Report  of  U.  S.  Immigration  Commission,  page  9. 
16 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


be  found  under  circumstances  which  will  give  them 
a ready  means  of  acquaintance  and  intimacy,  such 
as  employment  agencies,  immigration  homes,  moving 
picture  shows,  dance  halls,  sometimes  waiting  rooms 
in  large  department  stores,  railroad  stations,  mani- 
curing and  hairdressing  establishments.  The  men 
watching  such  places  are  usually  suave  in  manner, 
well  dressed  and  prosperous  looking.  They  become 
acquainted  as  intimately  as  possible  with  young 
aliens,  then  use  every  conceivable  method  of  be- 
traying them. 

The  following  instance,  related  by  U.  S.  Dis- 
trict Attorney  Sims,  of  Chicago,  is  one  that 
shows  clearly  the  methods  employed  and  the 
character  of  the  white  slave  traffic: 

Whether  these  hunters  of  the  innocent  ply  their 
awful  calling  at  home  or  abroad,  their  methods  are 
much  the  same,  with  the  exception  that  a foreign 
girl  is  more  hopelessly  at  their  mercy.  Let  me  take 
the  case  of  a little  Italian  peasant  girl  who  helped 
her  father  till  the  soil  in  the  vineyards  and  fields 
near  Naples.  Briefly,  this  is  her  story:  A “fine 
lady”  who  wore  beautiful  clothes  came  to  where  she 
lived  with  her  parents,  made  friends  with  her,  told 
her  that  she  was  uncommonly  pretty  and  professed 
a great  interest  in  her.  Such  flattering  attentions 
from  an  American  lady  who  wore  clothes  as  fine  as 
those  of  the  Italian  nobility  could  have  but  one  effect 
on  the  mind  of  the  simple  peasant  girl,  and  her  still 
simpler  parents.  Their  heads  were  completely  turned 


17 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


and  they  regarded  the  “ American  lady  ” with  almost 
adoration. 

Very  shrewdly  the  woman  did  not  attempt  to 
bring  the  little  girl  back  with  her,  but  held  out  the 
hope  that  some  day  a letter  might  come  with  money 
for  her  passage  to  America.  Once  there,  she  would 
become  the  companion  of  her  American  friend  and 
they  would  have  great  times  together.  Of  course, 
in  due  time  the  money  came,  and  the  $ioo  was  a 
most  substantial  pledge  to  the  parents  of  the  wealth 
and  generosity  of  the  “ American  lady.”  Unhesi- 
tatingly the  girl  was  prepared  for  the  voyage  which 
was  to  take  her  to  the  land  of  happiness  and  good 
fortune.  According  to  the  arrangements  made  by 
letter,  she  was  met  in  New  York  by  two  “ friends  ” 
of  her  benefactress  who  attended  to  her  entrance 
papers  and  took  her  in  charge.  These  “ friends  ” 
were  two  of  the  most  brutal  of  all  the  white  slave 
drivers  who  are  in  the  traffic.  At  this  time  she  was 
about  sixteen  years  old,  innocent  and  rarely  attractive 
for  a girl  of  her  class,  having  the  large,  handsome 
eyes,  the  black  hair  and  the  rich,  olive  skin  of  a 
typical  Italian. 

Where  these  two  men  took  her  she  did  not  know; 
but  by  the  most  violent  and  brutal  means  they 
quickly  accomplished  her  ruin.  For  a week  she  was 
subjected  to  unspeakable  treatment  and  made  to  feel 
that  her  degradation  was  complete  and  final. 

And  here  let  it  be  said  that  the  breaking  of  the 
spirit,  the  crushing  of  all  hope  for  any  future  save 
that  of  shame,  is  always  a part  of  the  initiation  of  a 
white  slave.  Then  the  girl  was  shipped  on  to  j 

i8 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


Chicago,  where  she  was  disposed  of  to  the  keeper 
of  an  Italian  dive  of  the  vilest  type.  On  her  en- 
trance here,  she  was  furnished  with  gaudy  dresses 
and  wearing  apparel  for  which  the  keeper  of  the 
place  charged  her  $600.  As  is  the  case  with  all  new 
white  slaves,  she  was  not  allowed  to  have  any  cloth- 
ing which  she  could  wear  upon  the  street. 

Her  one  object  in  life  was  to  escape  from  the 
den  in  which  she  was  held  a prisoner.  To  “pay  out” 
seemed  the  surest  way,  and  at  length,  from  her 
wages  of  shame,  she  was  able  to  cancel  the  $600 
account.  Then  she  asked  for  her  street  clothing  and 
her  release — only  to  be  told  that  she  had  incurred 
other  expenses  to  the  amount  of  $400. 

Her  Italian  blood  took  fire  at  this  and  she  made 
a dash  for  liberty.  But  she  was  not  quick  enough 
and  the  hand  of  the  oppressor  was  upon  her.  In 
the  wild  scene  that  followed,  she  was  slashed  straight 
through  her  right  eye,  across  her  cheek,  and  another 
slitting  her  ear.  Then  she  was  given  medical  at- 
tention and  the  wounds  gradually  healed,  but  her 
face  is  horribly  mutilated,  her  right  eye  is  always 
open  and  to  look-  upon  her  is  to  shudder. 

When  the  raids  began,  she  was  secreted  and  ar- 
rangements made  to  ship  her  to  a dive  in  the  mining 
regions  of  the  West.  Fortunately,  however,  a few 
hours  before  she  was  to  start  upon  her  journey  the 
United  States  marshals  raided  the  place  and  captured 
the  girl  herself,  as  well  as  her  keepers.  The  awful 
thought  in  her  mind,  however,  is  to  escape  from 
assassination  at  the  hands  of  the  murderous  gang 
which  oppressed  her. 


19 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


These  cases  of  enslavement  of  immigrant 
girls  who  come  to  America  expecting  to  find 
freedom  and  happiness  are  most  pitiful.  Such 
girls  are  often  quite  friendless,  bewildered  by 
the  strangeness  of  the  language  and  country, 
lonely,  craving  amusement,  companionship  and 
sympathy.  What  wonder  that  they  fall  easy 
victims  to  the  smooth-tongued  procurer,  and 
are  too  intimidated  when  they  find  themselves 
in  the  hands  of  traffickers  to  make  any  attempt 
to  escape ! 

To  guard  against  the  sensational  beliefs 
that  are  becoming  prevalent,  it  is  best  to  re- 
peat that  the  agents  of  the  Commission  have 
not  learned  that  all  or  even  the  majority  of 
the  alien  women  and  girls  practicing  prostitu- 
tion in  the  United  States  in  violation  of  the 
immigration  act  were  forced  into  the  life  or  de- 
ceived ; and  they  have  not  proved  that  alien 
women  as  a class  are  more  quickly  degraded 
than  native  women,  though  from  their  igno- 
rance of  the  language  and  customs  they  are  at 
times  less  able  to  guard  themselves.  More- 


20 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


over,  since  in  some  parts  of  Europe  the  feeling 
regarding  sexual  immorality  is  less  pronounced 
than  in  the  United  States,  the  women  presum- 
ably in  many  instances  have  not  the  conscious- 
ness of  degradation  from  their  fallen  condition 
that  in  some  cases  causes  the  American  girl 
her  keenest  suffering. 

They  have  learned  that  a large  number  of 
alien  women  and  girls  is  being  imported 
(sometimes  unwillingly,  but  usually  willingly) 
into  the  United  States  and  distributed  through- 
out the  several  States  for  the  purposes  of 
prostitution ; that  alien  women  and  girls  in 
considerable  numbers  have  been  so  deceived 
or  taken  advantage  of  by  procurers  that  they 
have  found  themselves  in  conditions  which 
practically  forced  them  into  a life  of  prosti- 
tution ; and  that  all  of  those  engaged  in  the 
exploitation  of  these  alien  women  or  girls  use 
every  means  of  degrading  them,  in  order  to 
keep  them  in  the  life  as  long  as  they  are  able 
to  earn  money. 

Often  the  lure  to  the  women  is  evidently 


21 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


not  as  much  in  the  amouat  of  money  made  as 
in  the  apparent  ease  and  excitement  of  making 
it.  Even  the  smallest  profits  made  in  the  ex- 
ploitation of  women  are,  however,  sufficient 
to  tempt  the  man  who  is  willing  to  be  sup- 
ported by  a woman’s  shame  in  order  that  he 
may  be  free  to  drink  or  gamble,  and  to  tempt 
the  woman  who  has  no  desire  to  earn  an  hon- 
est livelihood.  (Report  of  Immigration  Com- 
mission.) 

Through  the  care  of  the  Immigration  De- 
partment, it  is  hoped  that  foreign  girls  will 
soon  be  well  protected  until  they  are  able  to 
take  their  place  as  citizens.  But  so  long  as 
the  white  slave  traffic  exists  in  America,  it 
will  continue  to  menace  both  them  and  native 
girls. 

It  is  a significant  fact  that  when  the  body 
of  a young  girl  was  recently  taken  to  the 
morgue  in  Chicago,  nearly  five  hundred  per- 
sons— relatives  of  other  missing  girls — called 
or  wrote  during  the  time  allowed  for  iden- 
tification to  see  if  it  was  their  lost  one.  Where 


22 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


are  those  lost  girls?  On  the  outskirts  of  one 
of  the  western  cities,  there  is  a cemetery  where 
451  nameless  girls  are  buried.  It  needs  not 
the  stories  that  have  been  recorded,  nor  yet 
the  unwritten  tragedies  that  have  come  to  our 
knowledge,  to  point  the  significance  of  such 
unmarked  graves.  The  facts  that  should  be 
told  are  those  that  will  help  to  strengthen 
the  forces  that  are  gathering  to  abolish  the 
white  slave  trade.  The  unhappy  fact  that  the 
daughters  of  every  State  of  the  Union  are 
menaced  by  the  cowardly  agents  of  this  clan- 
destine traffic  should  be  made  known.  Two 
other  incidents,  both  known  to  be  authentic, 
are  mentioned  here  to  show  that  neither  social 
standing  nor  dignity  of  bearing  afford  com- 
plete protection. 

Three  young  girls  of  good  family  and  ir- 
reproachable character,  attracted  by  a fortune 
teller’s  sign  displayed  near  the  boardwalk  of 
a seaside  resort,  went  into  the  house  with  no 
suspicion  of  evil  or  thought  of  danger,  and 
soon  after  their  entrance  found  themselves  be- 


23 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


hind  locked  doors.  In  insolent  terms,  they 
were  told  they  could  not  go  out,  and  that  as 
they  had  entered  of  their  own  accord,  their 
reputation  would  be  ruined  by  letting  that 
fact  become  known.  Two  of  the  girls  were 
timid,  but  the  third,  fortunately,  was  equal  to 
the  occasion.  By  her  coolness  and  courage, 
she  secured  the  escape  of  all  three  from  the 
clutches  of  a procurer. 

In  another  instance,  a man  seized  a young 
married  woman  of  excellent  social  position  at 
a railroad  station  in  a city  where  she  was  a 
stranger,  and  attempted  to  drag  her  into  a car- 
riage, claiming  that  she  was  his  insane  wife. 

No  one  could  wish  to  be  an  alarmist  but, 
for  the  protection  of  womanhood  in  America, 
the  dangers  that  threaten  every  walk  of  life 
while  this  traffic  in  women  goes  on  should  be 
made  known. 

In  the  mind  of  the  trafficker  there  is  no 
sanctity  attached  to  marriage.  Frequently 
young  girls  are  approached  by  suave  pro- 
curers with  offers  of  marriage.  Where  the 


24 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


risks  are  not  too  great,  sham  ceremonies  are 
sometimes  performed ; and  instances  are  known 
where  men  have  legally  married  women  only 
to  force  them  into  an  immoral  life  in  order  to 
collect  money  from  them. 

The  lax  marriage  laws  of  the  States  facili- 
tate such  a proceeding,  for  usually  no  inquiry 
is  made  as  to  the  personal  history  or  character 
of  the  man.  Indeed,  in  many  cases,  the  ease 
with  which  the  man  wins  the  consent  of  a 
woman  to  become  his  wife,  often  without  the 
knowledge  of  her  friends,  and  frequently  in 
direct  opposition  to  their  judgment,  is  astound- 
ing. She  will  often  leave  her  home  and  her 
family  to  follow  a stranger  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth.  Assistant  State’s  Attorney  Roe,  of  Chi- 
cago, tells  of  a girl  who,  he  says,  “ was  caught 
by  the  love  scheme.”  She  was  in  a Chicago 
store  buying  sheet  music,  when  a well-dressed, 
handsome  young  man,  apparently  looking  at 
music  too,  asked  her  the  names  of  some  of 
the  latest  popular  songs,  as  he  wanted  to  buy 
them.  At  first,  she  turned  from  him,  but  he 


25 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


was  not  to  be  repulsed,  and,  artfully  pressing 
his  attentions  upon  her,  succeeded  finally  in 
engaging  her  in  a conversation,  which  he  per- 
suaded her  to  continue  at  a nearby  restaurant 
where  they  took  luncheon  together.  There  he 
told  her  how  at  first  sight  he  had  fallen  in  love 
with  her  beauty.  After  lunch  he  artfully  sug- 
gested a visit  to  his  bachelor  apartments,  but 
this  she  refused;  whereupon  he  asked  her  to 
marry  him  then  and  there.  The  silly  girl,  be- 
lieving he  loved  her,  and  enchanted  by  the 
picture  he  had  painted  of  his  father’s  wealth 
and  fine  home  in  New  York  City,  consented, 
and  they  were  married. 

After  the  ceremony  he  told  her  he  was  about 
“ broke,”  and  that  they  must  manage  some- 
how to  get  money  to  take  them  to  his  father’s 
home ; finally  he  said  he  would  take  her  to  a 
place  where  she  could  make  enough  money  in 
a few  days  to  pay  their  way  to  New  York, 
where  everything  would  be  lovely,  and,  as  they 
were  married,  it  would  be  no  one’s  business 
how  she  got  the  money.  Immediately  some 


26 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


accounts  she  had  read  of  white  slave  pro- 
curers came  to  her  mind,  and  she  then  realized 
what  she  had  fallen  into.  Lest  she  might 
arouse  in  him  suspicion  of  her  purpose,  she 
consented  to  the  plan,  but  told  him  that  before 
going  out  to  the  resort  she  wanted  to  get  some 
clothes,  and  it  was  arranged  that  she  should 
meet  him  at  a certain  downtown  corner  to- 
wards evening.  “ She  hurried  to  the  County 
Court,”  Mr.  Roe  says,  “ where  an  escort  was 
given  her,  and  she  was  brought  to  the  court 
where  I was  prosecuting.  I armed  an  officer 
with  a warrant  and  he  followed  the  girl  to 
the  appointed  place  of  meeting.  The  young 
man  was  there  waiting  for  his  victim.  The 
officer  stepped  up  and  put  him  under  arrest, 
and  the  next  day  he  was  tried  and  convicted. 
It  was  then  learned  that  he  was  a well-known 
procurer  of  girls.  Thus  saved  from  a life  of 
ruin,  the  girl  went  home  heartbroken  but  wiser 
for  her  experience.  She  was  from  a very  re- 
spectable home,  and  had  always  been  good, 
honest  and  industrious.” 


27 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


Many  similar  cases  have  been  revealed  in 
recent  court  trials.  In  passing  it  is  well  to 
note  that,  but  for  the  wide-spread  publications 
concerning  the  white  slave  traffic,  some  of 
which  had  come  to  the  notice  of  this  young 
girl,  she  would  not  have  been  saved. 

There  is  another  form  of  woman-slavery 
that  should  be  understood.  It  is  the  system 
by  which  a man,  getting  control  of  one  or 
more  women,  induces  or  forces  them  to  go 
on  the  street,  in  order  that  he  may  live  on  the 
money  so  gained,  or  he  may  place  them  in  a 
house  for  the  same  purpose.  In  either  case 
they  are  compelled  to  turn  money  over  to  their 
master,  sometimes  all  of  it.  These  slaves  are 
not  held  by  chains  of  steel,  but  by  invisible 
fetters  that  are  as  hard  to  break. 

The  Immigration  Commission  report  says : 

The  procurer  may  sell  his  woman  outright;  he 
may  act  as  agent  for  another  man ; he  may  keep  her, 
making  arrangements  for  her  hunting  men.  She 
must  be  exploited,  not  for  her  own  sake,  but  for  that 
of  her  owner.  Often  he  does  not  tell  her  even  his 
right  name.  If  she  tries  to  leave  her  man,  she  is 


28 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


threatened  with  arrest.  If  she  resists,  she  finds  all 
the  men  about  her  leagued  against  her. 

The  ease  and  apparent  certainty  of  profit  has  led 
thousands  of  our  younger  men,  usually  those  of  for- 
eign birth,  or  the  immediate  sons  of  foreigners,  to 
abandon  the  useful  arts  of  life  to  undertake  the  most 
accursed  business  ever  devised  by  man. 

It  is  the  business  of  the  man  who  controls  the 
woman  to  provide  police  protection,  either  by  brib- 
ing the  police  not  to  arrest  her;  or,  in  case  of  arrest, 
to  secure  bail,  pay  the  fine,  etc. 

The  active  agent  in  the  white  slave  trafific  is 
the  procurer.  Everywhere  his  hand  is  recog- 
nized in  this  iniquitous  business.  Sometimes 
women  engage  in  it,  and  they  ply  their  trade 
for  the  most  part  on  railroad  trains,  steam- 
boats and  in  railway  stations,  always  ready  to 
proffer  aid  to  young  women  who  are  strangers 
and  in  distress  of  any  sort. 

But  the  men  are  bold  operators.  It  is  they 
who  lure  the  immigrant  girls ; they  who  band 
together  to  prevent  escapes ; who  visit  small 
towns  in  search  of  fresh  victims  whom  they 
either  sell  outright  or  force  into  vice  in  order 
that  these  men  may  be  supported.  It  is  they 
who  obtain  bail  for  their  victims  when  ar- 


3 


29 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


rested  and  obtain  smart  lawyers  to  efifect  their 
release  when  seized  by  the  law. 

These  men  are  present  in  every  large  city, 
especially  in  those  in  which  the  social  evil  is 
protected  or  segregated,  for  they  must  have 
places  to  sell  their  goods. 

These,  too,  are  the  men  who  frequent  the 
dance-halls  and  excursion  boats,  ever  on  the 
alert  for  their  prey.  They  usually  have  no 
regular  occupation  other  than  watching  and 
collecting  the  earnings  of  the  women  whose 
lives  they  control.  Through  their  relations 
with  political  powers,  white  slavers  generally 
manage  to  get  protection  from  arrest  so  that 
they  may  confidently  put  women  on  the  street 
to  solicit  men.  In  return  for  protection,  they 
may  act  as  repeaters  at  the  polls  or  do  other 
political  work.  Thus  they  contrive  to  make 
themselves  safe  from  arrest,  or,  if  arrested, 
to  escape  punishment;  and  the  shrewdest  of 
them  carry  on  the  traffic  in  women  almost 
without  hindrance  from  the  authorities,  with 
little  fear  that  they  will  ever  be  called  to  ac- 


30 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


count  for  their  crimes.  Authority  for  these 
statements  may  be  found  in  the  following  ex- 
tracts from  reports  filed  at  Washington. 

Naturally,  you  will  ask,  if  there  is  an  army 
of  these  dangerous  men  thus  violating  the 
law,  why  are  they  permitted  to  continue  to  do 
so?  The  answer  is  that  they  are  useful  to 
the  politicians. 

The  Commissioner  General  of  Immigration, 
Daniel  J.  Keefe,  in  his  report  issued  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1910,  says: 

As  a preliminary  to  perfecting  plans  for  the  execu- 
tion of  special  efforts  towards  ridding  the  country 
of  alien  prostitutes  and  procurers,  the  Bureau  ha,d 
Inspector  Marcus  Braun  conduct  a general  investi- 
gation covering  all  of  the  largest  cities  of  the  United 
States.  As  a result,  the  Bureau  is  satisfied  that  an 
enormous  business  is  constantly  being  transacted  in 
the  importation  and  distribution  of  foreign  women 
for  purposes  of  prostitution,  which  business  also 
includes  the  seduction  and  distribution  of  alien 
women  and  girls  who  have  entered  the  country  in 
a regular  manner  for  legitimate  purposes,  and  to 
some  extent  of  American  women  and  girls.  In 
some  cities  the  traffic  is  more  or  less  connected  with 
local  political  conditions,  and  the  police  and  other 
municipal  authorities  are  either  implicated  or  else 


31 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


helpless  to  assist  in  even  the  partial  eradication  of 
the  evil. 

The  U.  S.  District  Attorney  of  Seattle  stated 
to  the  Grand  Jury: 

There  are  between  seven  and  eight  hundred  men 
in  Seattle  who  live  from  the  revenue  from  the  white 
slave  traffic,  almost  all  of  whom  could  be  reached  by 
the  State  courts  if  proper  efforts  were  made.  The 
State  authorities  could  break  up  this  business  in 
short  order. 

The  money  invested  in  the  traffic  is  fabu- 
lous. Chinese  girl  slaves  on  the  Pacific  Coast 
have  been  sold  for  from  $500  to  S2000  each. 
When  Alphonse  and  Eva  Dufour  were  ar- 
rested in  Chicago  for  engaging  in  importing 
girls  for  immoral  purposes,  and  were  in  great 
danger  of  conviction,  they  forfeited  a bail  of 
$26,500  and  escaped  to  France,  where  they  are 
believed  to  be  engaged  in  the  same  business. 
Girls  are  often  offered  for  sale  for  $15  upward. 
The  following  affidavit  gives  a specific  instance 
of  this  kind: 

State  of  Illinois,  County  of  Cook,  jj.  ^ , 

first  being  sworn,  on  oath  deposes  and  says  that  dur- 
ing the  months  of  October,  November  and  Decem- 


32 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


ber,  1908,  and  January  and  February,  1909,  he  was 
employed  as  a special  investigator  by  the  Immigra- 
tion Commission;  that  as  part  of  his  duties  he  in- 
vestigated the  purchase  and  sale  of  women  for  im- 
moral purposes  in  Chicago  and  elsewhere  ....  that 
in  these  investigations  statements  were  made  by  a 
certain  keeper  of  a house  of  prostitution  in  Chicago 

that  for  a certain  French  girl  named  M he 

had  paid  the  sum  of  $1000;  that  for  a certain  French 

girl  named  M , who  was  an  inmate  of  his 

house,  he  had  paid  the  sum  of  $500  ....  that  a cer- 
tain girl  named  L , also  a French  girl,  was  sent 

from  Chicago  to  Omaha  and  sold  to  a keeper  of  a 
house  of  prostitution  in  that  city  for  $1400. 

Deponent  further  says  that  L.  P.,  now  an  inmate 
of  the  penitentiary  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  stated  to  de- 
ponent that  he  had  received  the  sum  of  $800  for  two 
girls  whom  he  had  brought  from  Paris,  France,  to 
Chicago  and  sold  to  a keeper  of  a house  of  prosti- 
tion  in  Chicago ; that  thereafter  he  was  sent  by  the 
same  keeper  to  Paris  again  and  given  $2000  with 
which  to  procure  four  additional  girls ; that  these 
girls  were  procured  in  Paris,  brought  to  New  York, 
but  that  they  were  stopped  by  the  immigration  in- 
spectors and  the  procurers  arrested.  . . .* 

“ Kipling  said  in  one  of  his  poems,  describ- 
ing the  doings  of  lawless  people  in  the  camps 
of  one  of  the  Northern  countries,  that  ‘ There 


* Report  of  Immigration  Commission,  page  30. 

33 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


is  never  a law  of  God  or  man  runs  north  of 
Forty-nine!’  That  and  more,  too,  might  be 
said  of  the  districts  where  the  white  slaver 
grows  rich  from  his  traffic  in  girls.  The  men 
and  the  women  who  engage  in  this  traffic  are 
more  unspeakably  low  and  vile  than  any  other 
class  of  criminals.  The  burglar  and  the  hold- 
up man  are  high-minded  gentlemen  by  com.- 
parison.  There  is  no  more  depraved  class  of 
people  in  the  world  than  those  human  vultures 
who  fatten  on  the  shame  of  innocent  young 
girls.”  * 

* Hon.  Edwin  W.  Sims  in  War  on  the  White  Slave 
Trade. 


34 


II 

How  Girls  are  Kept  in  Slavery 

The  question  naturally  arises : How  is  it 
possible  to  retain  girls  in  such  a life  against 
their  will  ? Why  do  they  not  make  outcry  and 
escape?  The  answer  offered  is  made  by  those 
who  know  whereof  they  speak. 

Once  in  the  power  of  her  keepers,  the  girl 
may  be  held  in  subjection  by  threats,  brutality, 
or,  in  some  instances,  by  a woman’s  strangely 
faithful  affection  for  the  man,  however  un- 
worthy, who  has  won  her  first  love.  An  inno- 
cent girl  who  has  been  betrayed  often  rebels 
and  fights  wildly  until  subdued  by  compulsion. 
But  frequently  she  is  too  broken  in  spirit,  and 
benumbed  by  the  calamity  that  has  befallen 
her,  to  rebel  or  try  to  escape.  Should  she  try, 
she  would  find  the  men  who  exploit  women 
leagued  together  to  keep  her  in  bondage.  For 
this  combination,  the  white  slavers  have  the 


35 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


double  motive  of  the  wish  to  maintain  a sys- 
tem of  mutual  aid  and  protection  among  them- 
selves, and  the  wish  to  impress  upon  the 
women  they  control  the  difficulties  and  dan- 
gers of  any  attempt  to  escape. 

The  methods  used  in  houses  to  which  white 
slaves  are  taken  seem  generally  about  as 
follows : 

Once  enticed  into  a house,  they  are  sub- 
jected to  what  is  known  as  the  “ breaking-in  ” 
process,  during  which  they  are  at  first  kept 
as  actual  prisoners.  They  are  not  permitted 
to  go  out  unaccompanied.  They  are  then  told 
that  there  is  no  other  life  open  to  them  after 
such  an  experience,  and  that  their  relatives 
will  not  take  them  back  (which  is  too  true,  in 
many  cases).  Their  street  clothes  are  taken 
from  them,  and  they  are  supplied  instead  with 
short  dresses  or  flimsy  finery  in  wffiich  they 
cannot  appear  in  the  street.  These  garments 
and  the  jewelry  with  which  they  are  provided 
are  charged  to  them  at  exorbitant  rates,  and 
they  are  told — and  believe — that  they  cannot 


36 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


leave  the  house  until  these  things  are  paid  for. 
When,  however,  the  money  is  raised  to  pay  for 
the  clothes  and  jewels,  the  victim  finds  that  by 
some  means  another  and  heavier  debt  has  been 
charged  to  her.  She  is  told  that  any  attempt 
on  her  part  to  evade  these  debts  will  subject 
her  to  “ handling  ” by  the  police,  followed  by 
imprisonment  and  publicity.  Intimidated  by 
threats  and  ill  treatment,  conscious  of  her 
degradation,  she  in  time  accepts  the  conditions 
and  continues  a life  of  vice. 

Sometimes  her  sensibilities  are  played  upon 
by  the  keeper’s  threat  to  write  to  her  family 
if  she  shows  any  insubordination.  It  is  well 
known  that  often  the  poor  victim  would  rather 
die  than  let  her  people  know  the  depths  to 
which  she  has  finally  fallen. 

There  seems  to  be  a good  understanding 
among  the  procurers,  transporters  and  the 
keepers  of  houses  of  vice  in  every  city,  and 
among  them  the  victims  are  watched  and 
guarded  so  as  to  make  escape  most  difficult. 
Threats  of  violence  and  death  are  often  made 


37 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


to  white  slaves,  and  such  threats  have  some- 
times been  carried  into  effect,  as  police  records 
show. 

Her  earnings  may  be  ten  times  as  much  in  this 
country  as  in  Eastern  Europe.  She  may  at  times 
earn  in  one  day  from  two  to  four  times  as  much 
as  her  washerwoman  can  earn  in  a week,  but  of  these 
earnings  she  gets  practically  nothing;  the  keeper  of 
the  house  will  take  one-half;  the  girl  must  pay 
twice  as  much  for  board  as  she  would  pay  else- 
where, and  three  or  four  times  the  regular  price  for 
clothes  that  are  furnished  her ; she  also  must  pay 
the  money  that  the  procurer  received  for  selling  her 
into  slavery,  and  when  all  these  tolls  are  paid,  little 
or  nothing  is  left.  Moreover,  she  often  contracts 
loathsome  and  dangerous  diseases  and  lives  hope- 
lessly on,  looking  forward  to  an  early  death. 

In  one  of  the  recent  raids,  a big  Irish  girl  was 
taken  and  held  as  a witness.  She  was  old  enough, 
strong  enough,  and  wise  enough,  it  seemed  to  me, 
to  have  overcome  almost  any  kind  of  opposition,  even 
physical  violence.  She  could  have  put  up  a fight 
which  few  men,  no  matter  how  brutal,  would  care 
to  meet.  I asked  her  why  she  did  not  get  out  of 
the  house,  which  was  one  of  the  worst  in  Chicago. 
Her  answer  was  “ Get  out ! I can’t.  They  make  us 
buy  the  cheapest  rags  and  they  are  charged  against 
us  at  fabulous  prices;  they  make  us  change  outfits 
at  intervals  of  two  or  three  weeks  until  we  are  so 
deeply  in  debt  that  there  is  no  hope  of  getting  out 

38 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


from  under.  We’ve  simply  got  to  stick,  and  that’s 
all  there  is  to  it.* 

There  are  other  reasons,  strange  as  it  may 
seem.  Many  instances  occur  in  which  girls 
so  situated  come  to  feel  an  affection  for  these 
men,  who,  in  a manner,  protect  them,  and  in 
time  come  to  stand  to  them  for  all  that  is 
worth  while  in  the  world.  These  men  are 
cruel  to  them,  rob  them  and  make  them  do 
drudgery  often.  Sometimes,  however,  their 
misery  becomes  too  great  to  endure  and  they 
turn  on  their  tormentors.  Here  is  one  instance  : 

Philadelphia.  Made  a slave  in  the  dives  of  this 
city  by  a giant  Mexican  negro,  a pretty  23-year-old 
white  girl,  who  came  here  from  Williamsport  two 
years  ago,  early  to-day  plunged  a pair  of  scissors 
into  the  negro’s  heart  and  he  is  dying  in  the  hospital. 

According  to  the  story  told  by  the  young  woman 
when  she  was  arraigned,  the  stabbing  followed  her 
being  taunted  by  the  negro  with  what  he  had  brought 
her  into,  before  a gathering  of  negro  men  and  women, 
and  his  tplling  them  that  he  owned  her. 

She  is  being  held  without  bail  to  await  the  result 
of  the  negro’s  injury. 


* Mr.  Harry  A,  Parkin,  Assistant  U.  S.  District 
Attorney  in  Chicago,  in  Report  of  Immigration  Com- 
mission, page  25. 


39 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


The  strange  fascination  that  certain  men 
exert  over  women  is  exercised  by  procurers 
who  possess  it;  and  repeated  instances  occur 
in  the  courts  where  a woman  who  has  been 
bullied  and  beaten  by  the  man  to  whom  she 
has  had  to  give  the  proceeds  of  her  shame 
will  intercede  on  his  behalf,  or  refuse  to  give 
evidence  against  him.  Such  men  count  on 
this  for  their  protection,  and  even  more  cer- 
tainly on  the  fact  that  the  world  is  relentless 
in  its  censure  of  the  woman  who  makes  mer- 
chandise of  her  womanhood. 

One  of  the  reasons  why  so  many  girls  stay 
in  bondage  is  that  they  are  condemned  by  the 
severe  tribunal  of  parental  indignation  and 
social  decree  to  banishment.  Debarred  from 
normal  association  with  right-minded  people 
and  the  influences  of  wholesome  conditions, 
their  mental,  physical  and  moral  natures  be- 
come warped  and  distorted ; they  come  at  last 
to  adopt  the  standards  and  live  the  life  of  the 
class  to  which  society  condemns  them. 


40 


Ill 

Woman  Slavery  on  the  Pacific  Coast 

In  many  cities  on  the  Pacific  Coast  there 
exists  a form  of  woman  slavery  which,  it  would 
seem,  needs  only  to  be  described  to  give  rise 
to  a movement  for  its  destruction.  There  are 
erected  large  and  flimsily  built  houses  called 
“ cribs,”  consisting  of  many  small  rooms  open- 
ing into  inner  passages  by  means  of  a barred 
window  and  door,  which  is  kept  locked  by  the 
manager,  the  key  being  given  to  men  as  they 
apply  to  him.  Within  these  little  cells,  scantily 
furnished,  are  kept  young  girls,  most  of  them 
Chinese  and  Japanese,  but  some  of  them  Euro- 
pean and  American.  They  have  little  light 
or  air,  are  rarely  allowed  to  leave  their  rooms, 
and  the  manager  receives  the  money.  Are 
they  not  slaves — literally  slaves  ? And  yet  this 
slavery  exists  upon  American  soil  and  no  one 
voices  an  effective  protest.  In  conversation 


41 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


with  a very  intelligent  Chinaman,  the  direct 
question  was  asked : “ Are  these  girls  actual 
prisoners,  owned  and  controlled  by  their  keep- 
ers ? ” He  said  that  such  was  practicall)'^  the 
case,  and  that  these  girls  were  not  allowed 
to  leave  their  rooms  without  being  escorted 
by  older  people  whose  attendance  would  in- 
sure their  return. 

Reporting  a case  of  disputed  ownership  of 
a Chinese  girl  claimed  by  two  men,  one  of 
whom  resided  in  Sacramento,  and  the  other 
in  Oakland,  the  Oakland  Enquirer  of  Febru- 
ary 20,  1907,  informed  its  readers  that:  “ This 
girl’s  possession  was  one  of  the  points  in  dis- 
pute between  two  tongs  [secret  societies],  and 
it  was  this  that  was  settled  at  yesterday’s  con- 
ference.” This  article  was  headed  “ Warring 
Tongs  Hold  a Conference,  and  it  is  Agreed 
Chinese  Maiden  is  to  be  Returned  or  Equiva- 
lent in  Cash.” 

“ Equivalent  in  cash  ” for  a Chinese  maiden ! Can 
it  be  possible  that  this  is  the  United  States  of 
America  and  the  twentieth  century!  ....  Have  we 
spent  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars,  and  shed  the 


42 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


blood  of  many  thousands  of  young  men,  and  widowed 
and  orphaned  tens  of  thousands  besides,  in  a civil 
war  to  put  down  African  slavery,  introduced  from 
the  Atlantic  coast,  merely  to  turn  about  and  welcome 
Chinese  slavery  from  the  Pacific  coast?* 

An  investigator  sent  into  the  cities  of  Cali- 
fornia by  the  National  Vigilance  Committee 
in  January,  1908,  found  the  crib  system  in  op- 
eration in  San  Francisco  since  the  earthquake 
in  what  is  called  the  “ Barbary  Coast.”  He 
reported  that  there  were,  in  this  district,  houses 
built  for  immoral  purposes  containing  from 
twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  girls  in 
each.  Some  of  these  houses  occupied  from 
one-quarter  to  half  a block.  Most  of  the  girls 
in  them  were  of  foreign  parentage,  and  our 
agent  learned  upon  reliable  authority  that  a 
well-organized  system  was  in  operation,  by 
which  any  desired  number  of  girls  might  be 
procured  here  or  abroad  on  short  notice. 
“ Many  slave-pens  for  women  have  been  built 
in  the  reconstructed  Chinatown,  and  much  of 

* “ Heathen  Slaves  and  Christian  Rulers,”  by  Dr. 
Katharine  Bushnell  and  Elizabeth  Andrews. 


43 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


the  money  for  these,  it  is  said,  has  been  fur- 
nished by  some  of  the  ‘Christian  ’ business  men 
of  San  Francisco.  While  a few  of  the  citizens 
of  San  Francisco  are  aware  of  this  infamy, 
the  majority  of  the  people  of  that  city  seem 
to  have  no  realization  of  the  depth  of  iniquity 
this  crib  system  of  slavery  presents. 

“Similar  conditions  have  been  found  in  Oak- 
land, where  the  authorities  seem  to  regard  the 
crib  slavery  of  young  girls  as  part  of  the  legiti- 
mate business  of  the  city,  and  where  at  a re- 
cent election  one  of  the  crib  owners  came  very 
near  being  chosen  a member  of  the  school 
board.  The  system  exists  in  Sacramento,  the 
capital  of  California,  where  may  be  witnessed 
a depth  of  depravity  that  is  almost  beyond  be- 
lief; and  in  Stockton,  Modista,  Fresno  and 
Bakersfield,  in  which  latter  place  cribs  are 
owned  by  a prominent  citizen  who  has  held 
high  official  position.  It  is  also  to  be  found  in 
San  Diego  and  Watsonville.” 

Los  Angeles  destroyed  its  cribs  by  means  of 
a crusade  of  its  citizens  in  1904. 


44 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


Aside  from  the  cruelty  of  this  system,  it  will 
be  readily  understood  that  these  places  soon 
become  plague  spots  of  infection,  and  continue 
to  be  such  as  long  as  they  are  allowed  to  exist. 

There  is  a brave  and  devoted  woman  in 
San  Francisco  who  is  ever  on  the  alert  to  res- 
cue Japanese  and  Chinese  girls.  She  relates 
the  following  instance: 

On  one  occasion,  a band  was  organized  to  rescue 
a Chinese  girl  who  had  promised  to  assist  in  her  own 
escape.  She  had  arranged  that  she  would  hold  a 
white  handkerchief  to  her  mouth  in  order  to  show 
that  she  was  the  one  to  be  rescued. 

When  the  party  entered  the  place,  they  saw  the 
girl  with  the  handkerchief,  but,  unfortunately,  in 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  she  lost  her  presence 
of  mind  and,  waving  the  handkerchief,  cried  out, 
“ Oh,  teacher ! ” A locked  door  still  separated  her 
from  her  rescuers,  and  her  keepers,  suspecting  the 
truth,  hurried  her  away  and  she  was  lost  in  the 
recesses  of  the  house.  Later  on,  some  girls  who 
managed  to  escape  told  her  fate.  Her  enraged 
owner  kicked  her  to  death  in  one  of  the  rooms  of 
this  slave-pen,  where  there  was  no  one  to  defend 
her.  No  person  was  ever  punished  by  law  for  this 
crime. 

The  following  excerpt  from  Miss  Donald- 
ena  Cameron’s  report  to  the  Occidental  Board 

4 45 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


of  Foreign  Missions  presents  a vivid  picture 
of  the  situation  on  the  Pacific  Coast; 

Now  a glimpse  at  the  last,  and,  most  interesting 
phase  of  our  rescue  work — those  who  actually  have 
been  sold  in  China  and  resold  in  this  country,  young 
girls  not  out  of  their  teens  who  are  held  by  their 
greedy  owners  for  a king’s  ransom,  never  less  than 
three  thousand  dollars,  with  large  interest  added 
every  month.  How  hopeless  and  helpless  is  the 
condition  of  those  Chinese  slave  girls,  no  enlightened 
white  woman  can  realize.  . . . Just  lately  our  efforts 
and  hopes  have  centered  upon  three  young  slave 
girls,  all  very  recent  importations  from  China.  Foo 
Qui  is  the  most  interesting  of  the  trio,  the  most 
responsive  and  intelligent.  Her  own  determined 
rebellion  against  the  horrors  of  the  life  she  was 
assigned  to  after  her  arrival  in  San  Francisco  was 
what  brought  about  her  rescue.  She  first  escaped 
from  her  prison  on  Mah  Fong  Alley  and  took  refuge 
with  Chinese  in  a lodging  house  on  Dupont  Street. 
Thither  her  owner  traced  her  and  demanded  that 
she  return.  Foo  Qui  refused  to  go.  Her  owner 
dared  not  use  force,  as  those  who  harbored  the  girl 
were  members  of  an  opposing  highbinder  tong.  A 
meeting  of  the  two  tongs  was  called  to  settle  the 
question  of  the  girl’s  ransom.  If  her  new  friends  (?) 
would  pay  the  price,  she  could  remain  with  them. 
While  this  meeting  was  in  progress  behind  barred 
doors  at  Tong  Headquarters  on  Waverly  Place,  a 
messenger  carried  the  information  to  the  Mission. 
Quickly  an  officer  was  called  and  a rescue  party  of 

46 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


three  hastened  toward  Chinatown.  Up  two  flights 
of  stairs  to  the  top  floor  where  a strongly  bolted 
door  barred  the  way.  Ah  Ching,  the  little  Mission 
interpreter,  spoke  a few  Chinese  words.  Unsus- 
pectingly the  old  doorkeeper  slid  back  the  bolts,  in 
an  instant  the  rescue  party  had  forced  their  way 
past  the  amazed  guard  and  down  a long  passageway. 
From  the  further  end  could  be  heard  the  distressed 
cries  of  a girl’s  voice  pleading  her  own  lost  cause. 
A door  stood  slightly  ajar;  we  sprang  towards  it, 
but  the  excited  cries  of  warning  from  the  man  at 
the  door  reached  the  inner  guard;  as  our  hands 
touched  it  the  great  door  swung  shut  and  the  bolts 
dropped  into  place.  All  was  quiet  for  a few  mo- 
ments, then  we,  who  vainly  knocked  and  demanded 
admission,  could  faintly  discern  the  sound  of  some- 
thing being  dragged  across  the  room,  furniture  was 
moved,  then  the  crashing  of  glass,  then  indistinguish- 
able, muffled  sounds.  Oh,  the  intense  anxiety  of 
those  moments!  The  bitterness  of  defeat!  Next, 
hurried  footsteps  on  the  roof  over  our  heads ! Our 
small  party  was  re-enforced  by  the  police  sergeant 
and  we  pleaded  with  him  to  force  an  entrance.  Once 
more  a club  was  brought  to  bear  on  the  stubborn 
door;  at  length  a tardy  response  came;  slowly  the 
bolts  were  withdrawn  and  we  entered  through  a 
passage  into  the  meeting  place  of  the  Bing  Goon 
Tong,  where  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  men  of  the 
rival  tongs  filled  the  room.  An  imperturbable  calm 
pervaded  the  gathering,  there  was  absolutely  nothing 
to  suggest  the  scenes  which  we  knew  had  just  been 
enacted.  “ Where  is  the  slave  girl  ? ” we  indignantly 


47 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


demanded.  They  politely  suggested  that  we  “ had 
come  to  the  wrong  place  to  seek  slave  girls.”  Mo- 
ments were  precious,  we  must  find  where  she  was 
hidden.  An  open  window  suggested  the  fire  escape. 
Leaning  out  to  scan  the  ascent  to  the  roof,  a work- 
man across  the  street  on  a neighboring  roof  called 
out : “ They  pulled  her  through  the  skylight,  she  is 
in  the  next  house  below.”  Calling  our  aids  to  follow, 
we  descended  again  to  the  street,  ran  around  the 
corner  and  proceeded  to  mount  the  stairs  of  the 
“ next  house  below.”  Another  locked  door  guarded 
the  entrance  there,  but  the  Chinese  within,  fearing 
to  resist  the  squad  of  police  who  had  now  gathered 
to  assist  in  the  search,  quickly  opened  the  door.  Our 
first  search  of  several  rooms  revealed  nothing,  but 
a second  look  brought  to  our  notice  a large  cup- 
board moved  slightly  out  from  the  wall.  As  we 
stepped  forward  to  glance  behind  it,  a disheveled 
black  head  appeared.  We  knew  instantly  that  its 
owner  was  no  other  than  Foo  Qui,  the  object  of  our 
long  search.  Distressed  and  frightened  though  she 
was,  it  took  little  persuasion  to  draw  her  from  her 
hiding  place.  Great  was  the  consternation  of  the 
enemy  when  the  victorious  rescue  party  made  its 
exit  from  the  house  through  the  excited  crowds  that 
thronged  the  sidewalks,  eager  to  see  the  climax.  As 
the  trembling  slave  girl  passed  up  the  street  with 
downcast  head,  clinging  to  the  hand  of  the  calm, 
triumphant  little  interpreter.  Ah  Ching,  we  did  not 
wonder  that  a rousing  cheer  went  up  from  that 
mingled  throng.  We  only  marveled  anew  at  our  own 

48 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


lack  of  faith;  that  we  could  ever  harbor  a thought 
of  defeat. 

One  more  short  story  (though  it  could 
easily  be  longer  than  the  last  if  space  and  the 
reader’s  patience  would  permit)  : 

Yoke  Qui  is  the  name  she  was  given  when  she 
began  life  in  that  strange  underworld  of  Chinatown 
about  two  years  ago.  She  is  very  pretty,  and  grace- 
ful as  a reed,  so  we  like  best  the  soft  sounding  name, 
Suey  Wah  (Water  Bird),  a fond  Chinese  mother 
called  her  when  she  first  saw  the  light  in  some  peace- 
ful village  nested  near  one  of  the  great  water-ways 
in  the  old  Province  of  Canton.  The  Mission  heard 
of  Yoke  Qui  through  two  mysterious  messengers, 
each  with  a different  plan  for  the  slave  girl’s  rescue. 
The  one  by  which  she  was  finally  saved  was  worked 
by  means  of  a talisman.  Two  halves  of  a little  torn 
white  handkerchief,  one-half  retained  to  assure  the 
rescuers  of  Yoke  Qui’s  identity  and  the  other  piece 
carried  by  one  of  the  Mission  party.  “ The  City  of 
Pekin,”  on  Jackson  Street,  with  exits  unto  several 
intersecting  alleys  at  the  side  and  on  the  rear,  had 
long  before  the  days  of  the  fire  been  a notorious 
rendezvous  for  Chinese  men  and  women  who  live 
on  the  illicit  earnings  of  the  unfortunate  slave  girls 
who  are  kept  there.  It  is  not  a pleasant  place  to  visit, 
and  our  plan  for  the  rescue  did  not  originally  em- 
brace entering  the  house,  but  at  five  o’clock,  the  hour 
previously  arranged  for  her  flight.  Yoke  Qui  was  sur- 
rounded by  a bevy  of  those  who  watched  with  sus- 


49 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


picion  her  every  move;  so  when  the  signal  came 
from  her  rescuers  at  the  outer  entrance,  it  was  not 
she  as  we  expected,  but  the  old  woman  who  kept 
guard,  that  cautiously  opened  the  door.  The  eager 
little  party  of  four  in  the  dark  entry  quickly  divided, 
two  stood  guard  that  the  heavy  door  might  not 
close  again,  while  two  made  a rapid  search  for  the 
girl  who  held  the  talisman.  Such  consternation  as 
prevailed,  and  such  pandemonium  as  ensued  can  only 
be  imagined ! Men,  women  and  weeping  slave  girls 
ran  hither  and  thither,  but  where  was  Yoke  Qui  with 
the  torn  handkerchief?  In  an  inner  room,  over- 
looked on  our  first  hasty  search  of  the  long  hallways, 
two  men  were  trying  to  force  open  a secret  trap 
door  through  which  the  young  girl  could  be  slid  to 
a secure  hiding  place ; but  Providence  ordered  other- 
wise. The  trap  failed  to  respond,  they  must  find 
another  retreat.  Across  the  hallway  they  dragged 
the  frightened,  reluctant  girl,  just  at  the  moment 
when  her  rescuers  were  hastening  toward  the  door 
to  summon  more  aid  in  the  search.  It  certainly  was 
not  “ chance  ” that  brought  us  there  at  that  very 
moment  just  in  time  to  block  their  flight.  An  in- 
stant’s glance  revealed  the  little  white  talisman  in 
the  girl’s  hand.  We  quickly  drew  forth  the  cor- 
responding piece  from  our  pocket.  With  that  mutual 
assurance.  Yoke  Qui  and  her  rescuers  turned  to  flee 
for  freedom,  but  not  without  a struggle  would  the 
allies  of  her  owner  allow  such  a valuable  chattel 
to  escape.  For  a moment  it  seemed  as  though  we 
would  lose  our  newly  won  prize.  Just  then  re- 


50 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


enforcements  arrived  to  assist  us.  One  of  our  wise 
young  Chinese  girls  at  the  entrance,  realizing  the 
danger,  had  run  to  the  street  below  and  called  an 
officer  to  help  us.  At  sight  of  him,  the  Chinese  men 
fell  back  and  quickly  disappeared.  Breathless,  but 
happy  and  thankful,  a party  of  five  returned  to  the 
shelter  of  the  Mission  Home. 


51 


IV 

The  Traffic  and  Public  Health 
The  white  slave  traffic  bears  a direct  rela- 
tion to  public  health,  for  it  is  a means  by 
which  infectious  venereal  disease  is  widely- 
spread.  Not  only  does  the  woman  herself 
become  subject  to  infection,  but  she  is  made 
a transmitter  of  disease.  Physicians,  actuated 
by  the  desire  to  protect  the  innocent,  are  mak- 
ing known  the  fact  that  diseases  caused  by 
prostitution  infect  the  wives  and  children  of 
the  men  from  whom  white  slaves  collect  the 
money.  Upon  the  men  who  visit  the  market 
the  scourge  falls,  and  with  these  citizens  the 
innocent  members  of  their  families  may  suffer. 

Because  of  its  effect  upon  public  health,  the 
traffic  thus  becomes  a subject  of  immediate 
interest  not  only  to  the  medical  profession  but 
also  to  the  public  whose  health  is  endangered. 
Not  only  does  the  victim  suffer,  but  many  in- 
nocent persons — wives  and  children — must 


52 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


come  under  the  curse  of  these  diseases,  for 
they  are  sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  afflict  the 
victims  and  thence  spread  throughout  the  com- 
munity, causing  a very  large  percentage  of 
disease  and  sterility  among  men ; serious  sur- 
gical operations,  sterility  and  death  among 
women ; and  weakness  and  blindness  among 
children  due  to  venereal  disease  which  is  fos- 
tered and  spread  by  the  white  slave  traffic. 

“ Oh,  what  men  do,  what  men  dare  to  do, 
what  men  daily  do,  not  knowing  what  they 
do ! ” It  is  the  last  clause  of  this  proposition 
which  explains  this  hecatomb  of  victims,  and 
at  the  same  time  suggests  the  saving  hope  of 
the  situation. 

It  is  not  because  men  are  so  lacking  in  conscience 
or  sensibility  that  they  perpetrate  these  crimes  against 
the  women  they  have  vowed  to  love,  cherish  and 
protect;  it  is  largely  from  ignorance. 

If  young  men  could  be  educated  in  matters  re- 
lating to  sexual  hygiene,  the  significance  and  dangers 
of  venereal  disease,  their  modes  of  contagion  and 
the  serious  consequences  they  may  entail  in  married 
life,  such  knowledge  would  be  of  inestimable  service 


53 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


in  protecting  the  sanctuary  of  marriage  from  their 
invasion. 

In  view  of  the  dangers  which  menace  the  public 
health  and  the  interests  of  the  family  and  society 
from  venereal  disease,  it  is  time  to  break  down  these 
barriers  of  concealment  and  silence,  behind  which 
these  diseases  propagate  and  flourish,  to  dissipate 
the  dense  ignorance  of  the  public  by  turning  on  the 
purifying  light  of  knowledge,  to  do  away  with  the 
mystery  and  secrecy  which  have  always  surrounded 
them,  and  to  put  aside  that  ridiculous  prudery  which 
regards  all  knowledge  of  sexual  matters  as  profane.* 

* Social  Diseases  and  Marriage,  by  Dr.  Prince  A. 
Morrow. 


54 


V 

The  New  York  White  Slave  Grand  Jury 

On  the  third  of  January,  1910,  the  Hon. 
Thomas  C.  O’Sullivan,  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions,  in  and  for  the  City  and 
County  of  New  York,  charged  an  additional 
Grand  Jury  for  the  January  term  with  the  duty 
of  inquiring  into  existence  of  an  organized 
traffic  in  women. 

There  were  two  features  connected  with  this 
investigation  which  at  once  attracted  and  held 
the  close  attention  of  the  public. 

One  was  the  fact  that  an  article  in  McClure’s 
Magazine  for  November,  1909,  written  by 
George  Kibbe  Turner,  entitled  “ The  Daugh- 
ters of  the  Poor,”  dealing  with  the  white  slave 
traffic  in  New  York  City,  and  also  an  article 
which  appeared  in  the  New  York  Evening 
Post  just  before  election,  were  believed  by 
many  to  have  had  influence  in  determining  the 
election. 


55 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


The  other  feature  was  that  Mr.  John  D. 
Rockefeller,  Jr.,  was  selected  as  the  foreman 
of  the  Grand  Jury. 

The  newly  elected  District  Attorney,  Mr. 
Charles  S.  Whitman,  appointed  Mr.  James 
Bronson  Reynolds  to  take  charge  of  the  in- 
vestigation, Mr.  Charles  W.  Appleton  being 
associated  with  him  until  the  appointment  of 
the  latter  as  magistrate. 

On  the  ninth  of  June,  1910,  the  Grand  Jury 
made  the  following  presentment  to  Judge 
O’Sullivan,  prefacing  it  with  the  statement 
that  they  had  consulted  Prof.  J.  W.  Jenks  of 
the  Immigration  Commission,  Mr.  Turner  of 
McClure’s,  and  many  other  individuals  and 
associations : 

WHITE  SLAVE  TRAEFIC 

Presentment  of  the  Additional  Grand  Jury  for  the 
January  Term  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions 
in  the  County  of  New  York,  in  the  matter  of 
the  investigation  as  to  the  alleged  existence  in 
the  County  of  New  York  of  an  organized  trafhc 
in  women  for  inwtoral  purposes. — Filed  June 
29,  igio. 


56 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


Court  of  General  Sessions  in  and  for  the  City 
AND  County  of  New  York 

In  the  matter  of  the  investigation  as  to  the  alleged 
existence  in  the  County  of  New  York  of  an 
organized  traMc  in  women  for  immoral  purposes. 

To  the  Hon.  Thomas  C.  O’Sullivan,  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  General  Sessions. 

Sir. — We,  the  members  of  the  Additional  Grand 
Jury  for  the  January  Term,  1910,  respectfully  present 
as  follows : 

In  the  charge  delivered  to  us  by  Your  Honor  on 
the  3d  day  of  January,  1910,  Your  Honor  said: 

“There  have  been  spread  broadcast  in  the  public 
prints  statements  that  the  City  of  New  York  is  a 
center  or  clearing  house  for  an  organized  traffic  in 
women  for  immoral  purposes,  or  what  has  come  to 
be  known  as  the  white  slave  traffic.  Some  of  these 
statements  may  have  been  published  with  ulterior 
motive  and  may  have  been  mere  sensationalism,  but 
some  are  said  to  be  based  upon  official  investigation 
and  charges  made  by  persons  who  profess  to  have 
knowledge  of  the  fact 

“This  traffic  in  women,  it  is  charged,  follows  two 
main  objects : First,  the  procuring  of  women  of 
previous  chaste  character,  who  through  force,  duress 
or  deceit  are  finally  made  to  live  lives  of  prostitu- 
tion; second,  the  procuring  of  women  who  are  al- 
ready prostitutes  and  placing  them  with  their  consent 
in  houses  where  they  may  ply  their  trade.  . . . 

“ But  the  main  object,  gentlemen,  which  I desire 


57 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


you  to  keep  in  mind  throughout  your  investigation 
is  the  uncovering  not  alone  of  isolated  offences,  but 
of  an  organization,  if  any  such  exists,  for  a trafSc 
in  the  bodies  of  women. 

“You  should  make  your  investigation  sufficiently 
broad  to  cover  not  only  present  conditions,  but  also 
conditions  existing  in  the  past  within  the  statute  of 
limitations. 

“ I charge  you  that  it  is  your  duty  to  pursue  this 
inquiry  into  every  channel  open  to  you  and  to  present 
to  the  court  the  facts  found  by  you.” 

Pursuant  to  Your  Honor’s  instructions,  we  have 
made  an  investigation  into  the  matters  referred  to 
in  Your  Honor’s  charge.  We  have  called  before  our 
body  every  person  whom  we  could  find  who  we  had 
reason  to  believe  might  have  information  on  the 
subject.  Among  others  were  the  following:  A 
member  of  the  National  Immigration  Commission 
assigned  to  investigate  conditions  relating  to  im- 
porting, seducing  and  dealing  in  women  in  the  City 
of  New  York;  the  author  of  an  article  which  ap- 
peared in  McClure’s  Magazine  for  November,  1909, 
entitled  “ The  Daughters  of  the  Poor  ” ; a former 
under  sheriff  in  the  County  of  Essex,  New  Jersey; 
the  President  of  the  New  York  Society  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Cruelty  to  Children;  the  author  of  a pam- 
phlet entitled  “The  White  Slave  Traffic”;  a member 
of  the  New  York  State  Immigration  Commission  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Hughes  in  1908;  a former 
Police  Commissioner  of  the  City  of  New  York; 
detectives  and  other  agents  especially  employed  in 

58 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


connection  with  this  investigation;  members  and 
ex-members  of  the  New  York  Independent  Benevo- 
lent Association ; witnesses  in  the  specific  cases  pre- 
sented to  this  grand  jury,  as  well  as  a number  of 
other  citizens.  In  addition,  the  foreman,  the  District 
Attorney  and  his  Assistants  have  interviewed  repre- 
sentatives of  the  following  organizations: 

The  Committee  of  Fourteen;  its  Research  Com- 
mittee. 

The  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Chil- 
dren. 

The  New  York  Society  for  the  Suppression  of 
Vice. 

The  Charity  Organization  Society. 

The  Society  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 
Poor. 

The  Committee  on  Amusements  and  Vacation  Re- 
sources of  Working  Girls. 

The  Society  for  Social  and  Moral  Prophylaxis. 

The  Florence  Crittenden  Mission. 

The  New  York  Probation  Association. 

The  Headworkers  of  various  Social  Settlements. 

The  Women’s  Municipal  League. 

The  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Crime. 

The  Bureau  of  Municipal  Research. 

We  also  published  in  the  daily  press  of  this  city 
on  the  6th  day  of  May  the  following: 

“The  Additional  Grand  Jury,  sworn  in  in  January 
by  Judge  O’Sullivan  of  the  Court  of  General  Ses- 
sions, was  charged  with  the  investigation  of  the 
truth  or  falsity  of  certain  statements  which  had  been 


59 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


publicly  made  during  the  past  few  months  to  the 
effect  that  the  City  of  New  York  is  a center  or  clear- 
ing house  for  an  organized  traffic  in  women  for  im- 
moral purposes,  or  what  has  come  to  be  known  as 
the  white  slave  traffic. 

“ Pursuant  to  this  charge  the  Grand  Jury  has  been 
seeking  legal  evidence  on  this  subject  from  all  avail- 
able sources.  The  information  which  many  citizens 
have  volunteered  to  give  has  proved  in  most  cases 
to  be  general  rather  than  specific. 

“Before  closing  its  investigation  the  Grand  Jury 
desires  to  announce  publicly  that  it  will  be  glad  to 
receive  definite,  specific  information  as  to  the  exist- 
ence in  this  county  of  any  traffic  in  women  for  im- 
moral purposes  from  any  citizen  or  official  or  other 
individual  who  has  such  information.  Those  who 
are  willing  to  assist  the  Grand  Jury  in  its  investiga- 
tion are  asked  to  call  at  the  office  of  James  B.  Reyn- 
olds, Assistant  District  Attorney,  Criminal  Court 
Building  (within  the  next  week).  It  will  save  the 
time  of  many  individuals  and  of  Mr.  Reynolds  if 
only  those  appear  who  are  willing  and  able  to  present 
facts  regarding  the  specific  matter  above  stated. 

“ On  behalf  of  the  Additional  January  Grand  Jury. 

“John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr., 

“ Foreman.” 

As  a part  of  this  investigation  evidence  has  been 
presented  to  us  and  we  have  found  54  indictments ; 

22  for  rape. 

16  for  abduction. 


60 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


10  for  maintaining  disorderly  houses,  7 of  which 
were  Raines-Law  Hotels. 

6 for  the  violation  of  Section  2460  of  the  Penal 
Law,  entitled  “ Compulsory  Prostitution  of  Women.” 

We  have  found  no  evidence  of  the  existence  in 
the  County  of  New  York  of  any  organization  or 
organizations,  incorporated  or  otherwise,  engaged  as 
such  in  the  traffic  in  women  for  immoral  purposes, 
nor  have  we  found  evidence  of  an  organized  traffic 
in  women  for  immoral  purposes. 

It  appears,  on  the  other  hand,  from  indictments 
found  by  us  and  from  the  testimony  of  witnesses 
that  a trafficking  in  the  bodies  of  women  does  exist 
and  is  carried  on  by  individuals  acting  for  their  own 
individual  benefit,  and  that  these  persons  are  known 
to  each  other,  and  are  more  or  less  informally 
associated. 

We  have  also  found  that  associations  and  clubs, 
composed  mainly  or  wholly  of  those  profiting  from 
vice,  have  existed,  and  that  one  such  association  still 
exists.  These  associations  and  clubs  are  analogous 
to  commercial  bodies  in  other  fields,  which,  while  not 
directly  engaged  in  commerce,  are  composed  of  indi- 
viduals all  of  whom  as  individuals  are  so  engaged. 

The  “ incorporated  syndicates  ” and  “ international 
bands  ” referred  to  in  published  statements,  we  find 
to  be  such  informal  relations  as  have  just  been 
spoken  of,  while  the  “ international  headquarters,” 
“ clearing  houses  ” and  “ pretentious  clubhouses  ” 
mentioned  are  cafes  or  other  so-called  “ hangouts  ” 
where  people  interested  in  the  various  branches  of 


S 


61 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


the  business  resort.  These  and  the  houses  of  prosti- 
tution are  also  referred  to  as  “markets.” 

The  “ dealers  ” and  “ operators  ” are  the  so-called 
“ pimps  ” and  “ procurers,”  the  “ pimp  ” being  re- 
ferred to  as  the  “ retailer  ” and  the  manager  of 
houses  as  the  “ wholesaler.” 

The  only  association  composed  mainly  or  wholly 
of  those  profiting  from  vice,  of  the  present  existence 
of  which  we  have  evidence,  is  the  New  York  Inde- 
pendent Benevolent  Association,  organized  in  this 
city  in  1894  and  incorporated  in  1896.  This  associa- 
tion has  had  an  average  membership  of  about  100. 
Its  alleged  purpose  is  to  assist  its  members  in  case 
of  illness,  to  give  aid  in  case  of  death  and  to  assure 
proper  burial  rites. 

After  an  exhaustive  investigation  into  the  activities 
of  the  association  and  of  its  members  we  find  no 
evidence  that  the  association  as  such  does  now  or  has 
ever  trafficked  in  women,  but  that  such  traffic  is 
being  or  has  been  carried  on  by  various  members  as 
individuals.  We  find  that  the  members  of  this  asso- 
ciation are  scattered  in  many  cities  throughout  the 
United  States.  From  the  testimony  adduced  it  ap- 
pears probable  that  the  social  relations  of  the  mem- 
bers and  the  opportunity  thereby  afforded  of  com- 
municating with  one  another  in  various  cities  have 
facilitated  the  conduct  of  their  individual  business. 

On  one  occasion  where  a member  was  convicted 
of  maintaining  a disorderly  house  and  a fine  of  $1000 
was  imposed  upon  him  in  the  City  of  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  the  association  voted  $500  for  his  aid.  On 
another  occasion  in  the  City  of  Newark,  New  Jersey, 


62 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


where  several  of  the  members  of  the  association  were 
arrested  on  the  charge  of  keeping  and  maintaining 
disorderly  houses,  and  one  member  was  in  prison, 
the  then  President  went  to  Newark,  declared  to  the 
Under  Sheriff  that  he  was  the  President  of  the  New 
York  Independent  Benevolent  Association,  and  en- 
tered into  negotiations  with  the  authorities  in  New- 
ark on  behalf  of  the  members  who  had  been  ar- 
rested. We  have,  however,  no  evidence  of  any  such 
instance  in  the  County  of  New  York. 

It  appears  from  the  testimony  of  various  members 
and  ex-members  of  the  said  Association  that  its 
membership  is  almost  entirely  composed  of  persons 
who  are  now  or  have  been  engaged  in  the  operation 
of  disorderly  houses  or  who  are  living  or  have  lived 
directly  or  indirectly  upon  the  proceeds  of  women’s 
shame.  None  of  these  witnesses,  in  answer  to  spe- 
cific questions,  could  name  more  than  one  or  two 
present  or  past  members  whose  record  did  not  show 
them  to  have  lived  at  some  time  upon  the  proceeds 
of  prostitution  in  one  form  or  another.  They  claim, 
however,  that  all  members  who  have  been  convicted 
of  a crime  are  expelled  from  the  organization  when 
the  proof  of  that  fact  has  been  submitted,  the  offence 
apparently  being  not  the  commission  of  a crime,  but 
conviction.  It  would  appear  that  this  procedure  is 
for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  individual,  if  pos- 
sible, and,  failing  in  that,  of  freeing  the  Association 
from  criticism. 

Finding  no  evidence  of  an  organized  traffic  in 
women,  but  of  a traffic  carried  on  by  individuals, 
we  have  made  a special  and  careful  investigation 

63 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


along  this  line.  Owing  to  the  publicity  given  to  the 
inquiry  at  its  inception,  it  has  been  difficult  to  get 
legal  evidence  of  the  actual  purchase  and  sale  of 
women  for  immoral  purposes,  and  our  investigators 
have  been  informed  in  different  quarters  that  a num- 
ber of  formerly  active  dealers  in  women  had  either 
temporarily  gone  out  of  business  or  had  transferred 
their  activities  to  other  cities.  However,  five  self- 
declared  dealers  in  women  had  agreed  upon  various 
occasions  to  supply  women  to  our  agents,  but  because 
of  their  extreme  caution  and  the  fear  aroused  by 
the  continued  sitting  of  this  grand  jury,  these  prom- 
ises were  fulfilled  in  only  two  instances,  in  each  of 
which  two  girls  were  secured  for  our  agents  at  a 
price,  in  the  one  case  of  $6o  each  and  in  the  other 
of  $75  each.  Indictments  have  been  found  against 
these  two  persons;  one  pleaded  guilty  and  the  other 
was  convicted  on  trial. 

All  of  these  parties  boasted  to  our  investigators  of 
their  extensive  local  and  interstate  operations  in  the 
recent  past.  They  specifically  mentioned  the  cities 
to  which  they  had  forwarded  women,  and  described 
their  operations  as  having  at  that  time  been  free  from 
danger  of  detection. 

Our  investigators  also  testified  as  to  the  methods 
and  means  used  by  these  people  in  replenishing  the 
supply  of  women  and  in  entrapping  innocent  girls. 

Quoting  again  from  Your  Honor’s  charge : 

“ This  traffic  in  women,  it  is  charged,  follows  two 
main  objects;  First,  the  procuring  of  women  of  pre- 
vious chaste  character,  who  through  force,  duress  or 
deceit  are  finally  made  to  live  lives  of  prostitution; 

64 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


second,  the  procuring  of  women  who  are  already 
prostitutes  and  placing  them  with  their  consent  in 
houses  where  they  may  ply  their  trade.” 

Under  the  first  heading,  namely,  the  procuring  of 
women  of  previous  chaste  character,  we  find  the  most 
active  force  to  be  the  so-called  “ pimp.”  There  are 
in  the  County  of  New  York  a considerable  and  in- 
creasing number  of  these  creatures  who  live  wholly 
or  in  part  upon  the  earnings  of  girls  or  women  who 
practise  prostitution.  With  promises  of  marriage, 
of  fine  clothing,  of  greater  personal  independence, 
these  men  often  induce  girls  to  live  with  them,  and 
after  a brief  period,  with  threats  of  exposure  or  of 
physical  violence,  force  them  to  go  upon  the  streets 
as  common  prostitutes  and  to  turn  over  the  proceeds 
of  their  shame  to  their  seducers,  who  live  largely, 
if  not  wholly,  upon  the  money  thus  earned  by  their 
victims.  This  system  is  illustrated  in  an  indictment 
and  conviction  where  the  defendant  by  such  promises 
induced  a girl  of  fifteen  to  leave  her  home  and 
within  two  weeks  put  her  on  the  streets  as  a common 
prostitute. 

We  find  also  that  these  persons  ill-treat  and  abuse 
the  women  with  whom  they  live  and  beat  them  at 
times  in  order  to  force  them  to  greater  activity  and 
longer  hours  of  work  on  the  streets.  This  is  il- 
lustrated in  the  case  of  another  defendant  who  was 
indicted  and  convicted  for  brutally  slashing  with  a 
knife  the  face  of  “ his  girl  ” and  leaving  her  dis- 
figured for  life,  merely  because  she  was  no  longer 
willing  to  prostitute  herself  for  his  benefit. 

65 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


In  this  connection  mention  should  be  made  of  the 
moving  picture  shows  as  furnishing  to  this  class  of 
persons  an  opportunity  for  leading  girls  into  a life 
of  shame.  These  shows  naturally  attract  large  num- 
bers of  children,  and  while  the  law  provides  that  no 
child  under  the  age  of  sixteen  shall  be  allowed  to 
attend  them  unaccompanied  by  parent  or  guardian, 
it  is  a fact,  as  shown  by  the  number  of  arrests  and 
convictions  that  the  law  is  frequently  violated.  Evi- 
dence upon  which  indictments  have  been  found  and 
convictions  subsequently  secured,  has  been  given 
which  shows  that,  in  spite  of  the  activities  of  the 
authorities  in  watching  these  places,  many  girls  owe 
their  ruin  to  frequenting  them.  An  instance  of  the 
above  is  the  case  of  a defendant  indicted  by  this 
grand  jury  and  convicted  before  Your  Honor,  where 
three  girls  met  as  many  young  men  at  a Harlem 
moving  picture  show.  At  the  end  of  the  performance 
the  young  men  were  taken  by  an  employee  of  the 
place  through  a door  in  the  rear  into  a connecting 
building — used  as  a fire  exit  for  the  moving  picture 
show — where  they  met  the  girls,  and  all  passed  the 
night  together. 

The  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Children  has  furnished  statistics  showing  that  since 
the  r3th  day  of  December,  1906,  33  cases  of  rape 
and  seduction  originated  in  moving  picture  shows, 
in  some  instances  the  perpetrators  being  the  em- 
ployees of  the  shows. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  reference  to  bring 
an  indictment  against  the  moving  picture  show,  which 
under  proper  restrictions  may  be  an  important  and 


66 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


valuable  educational  and  recreative  factor,  but  rather 
to  point  out  possible  dangers  inherent  in  perform- 
ances carried  on  in  the  darkness,  and  the  importance 
of  the  observance  of  safeguards  by  parents  or  guard- 
ians, and  of  the  strict  enforcement  of  the  law  for 
the  protection  of  children. 

Under  the  second  heading  in  that  portion  of  Your 
Honor’s  charge  quoted  above,  which  refers  to  the 
procuring  of  women  who  are  already  prostitutes  and 
placing  them  with  their  consent  in  houses  where 
they  may  ply  their  trade,  the  grand  jury  has  made 
a special  study  of  the  class  of  disorderly  houses 
commonly  known  as  “ Raines-Law  Hotels,”  the  chief 
business  of  many  of  which  is  to  provide  a place 
where  women  of  the  streets  may  take  their  cus- 
tomers. The  testimony  given  shows  that  girls  who 
brought  their  patrons  to  certain  hotels  of  this  class 
were  allowed  rebates  on  the  amount  charged  their 
patrons  for  rooms.  Upon  the  evidence  brought  be- 
fore us,  indictments  were  found  against  seven  of  the 
most  notorious  of  these  hotels. 

The  abuse  which  has  grown  up  in  the  conversion 
of  the  so-called  massage  and  manicure  parlor,  into 
a disorderly  house,  frequently  of  the  most  perverted 
kind,  has  received  our  careful  study  under  this  same 
heading.  A special  investigation  has  been  made  of 
some  125  massage  and  manicure  parlors  in  this 
county.  Less  than  half  of  these  establishments  were 
found  to  be  equipped  for  legitimate  purposes,  most 
of  them  being  nothing  but  disorderly  houses.  The 
operators  in  such  places  had  no  knowledge  of  mas- 
sage treatment,  and  in  certain  cases  where  certificates 

67 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


of  alleged  massage  institutes  were  on  the  walls  of 
the  premises  they  frankly  admitted  that  they  had  no 
training  in  massage,  and  did  not  even  know  the  per- 
sons whose  signatures  appeared  on  the  certificates. 

In  view  of  the  above,  it  would  seem  important 
that  these  parlors  should  be  licensed  by  the  Health 
Department  of  the  city,  and  that  all  operators  in 
them  should  also  have  a license  from  some  approved 
health  or  medical  authority,  and  further,  that  proper 
supervisions  should  be  exercised  to  insure  their  op- 
eration for  the  legitimate  purposes  for  which  they  are 
licensed. 

The  spreading  of  prostitution  in  its  various  forms 
from  the  well-known  disorderly  house  into  apartment 
and  tenement  houses  presents  a very  grave  danger 
to  the  home.  It  is  inevitable  that  children  who  have 
daily  evidence  of  the  apparent  comfort,  ease,  and 
oftentimes  luxury  in  which  women  of  this  class  live 
should  not  only  become  hardened  to  the  evil,  but  be 
easily  drawn  into  the  life.  The  existing  laws  for 
the  suppression  of  this  vice  in  apartment  and  tene- 
ment houses  should  be  most  rigorously  enforced,  and, 
if  necessary,  additional  legislation  enacted. 

But  of  the  evils  investigated  under  this  head,  the 
most  menacing  is  the  so-called  “ pimp  ” w’ho,  as  al- 
ready stated,  while  often  active  in  seducing  girls,  is, 
to  what  seems  to  be  an  increasing  extent,  living  on 
the  earnings  of  the  professional  prostitute,  constantly 
driven  by  him  to  greater  activity  and  more  degrading 
practices. 

We  do  not  find  that  these  persons  are  formally 
organized,  but  it  would  appear  that  the  majority  of 


68 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


the  women  of  the  street,  as  well  as  many  of  those 
who  practice  prostitution  in  houses  or  flats,  are  con- 
trolled by  them  and  usually  pay  their  entire  earnings 
to  them.  They  prescribe  the  hours  and  working 
places  for  these  women,  assist  them  in  getting  cus- 
tomers, protect  them  from  interference  when  pos- 
sible, and  when  the  women  are  arrested  do  what 
they  can  to  procure  their  release.  While  “their 
women  ” are  at  work,  they  spend  much  of  their 
time  in  saloons  and  other  resorts  where  they  gather 
socially.  Although  operating  individually  their  com- 
mon interest  leads  them  to  co-operate  for  mutual 
protection  or  for  the  recovery  of  women  who  may 
desert  them,  and  for  the  maintenance  of  their  au- 
thority over  their  particular  women.  It  is  an  un- 
written law  among  these  men  that  the  authority  of 
the  individual  over  the  woman  or  women  controlled 
by  him  is  unquestioned  by  his  associates  to  whatever 
extreme  it  may  be  carried. 

To  obtain  a conviction  against  one  of  this  class  is 
most  difficult,  for  through  fear  or  personal  liking 
“ his  woman  ” is  loath  to  become  a witness  against 
him,  and  without  her  evidence  conviction  is  almost 
impossible. 

Whatever  one  may  think  of  the  woman  who  adopts 
the  profession  of  a prostitute  by  choice,  all  must 
agree  that  the  man  who  in  cold  blood  exploits  a 
woman’s  body  for  his  own  support  and  profit  is  vile 
and  despicable  beyond  expression.  Only  through  the 
arousing  of  an  intelligent  and  determined  public 
sentiment  which  will  back  up  the  forces  of  law  in 
their  effort  to  ferret  out  and  bring  to  justice  the 

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The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


members  of  this  debased  class,  is  there  hope  of 
stamping  out  those  vilest  of  human  beings  found 
to-day  in  the  leading  cities  of  this  and  other  lands. 


In  view  of  the  foregoing  we  recommend : 

1.  That  no  effort  be  spared  in  bringing  to  justice 
the  so-called  “pimp.”  When  the  character  and 
prevalence  of  these  creatures  are  more  fully  realized 
and  public  sentiment  aroused  regarding  them,  the 
inadequate  punishment  now  imposed  should  be  in- 
creased and  every  legitimate  means  devised  and  put 
into  execution  to  exterminate  them. 

2.  That  the  existing  laws  be  more  rigidly  enforced 
to  safeguard  the  patrons  of  the  moving  picture  shows, 
and  that  parents  and  guardians  exercise  more  care- 
ful supervision  over  their  children  in  connection  with 
their  attendance  upon  these  shows. 

3.  That  vigorous  efforts  be  made  to  minimize  the 
possibility  of  the  Raines-Law  Hotel  becoming  a 
disorderly  house,  and  that  where  necessary  proper 
supervision  and  inspection  looking  toward  that  end 
be  provided. 

4.  That  the  so-called  massage  and  manicure  par- 
lors be  put  under  the  control  of  the  Health  Depart- 
ment ; that  a license  from  this  department  be  required 
for  their  operation ; that  certificates  be  granted  to 
operators  only  by  some  approved  medical  authority, 
and  that  proper  measures  be  taken  to  enforce  these 
laws. 

5.  That  the  laws  relating  to  prostitution  in  apart- 
ment and  tenement  houses  be  rigidly  enforced,  and 
that  the  present  laws  be  supplemented,  if  necessary. 


70 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


6.  That  a commission  be  appointed  by  the  Mayor 
to  make  a careful  study  of  the  laws  relating  to  and 
the  methods  of  dealing  with  the  social  evil  in  the 
leading  cities  of  this  country  and  of  Europe,  with  a 
view  to  devising  the  most  effective  means  of  min- 
imizing the  evil  in  this  city. 

John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr., 

Geo.  F.  Crane,  Secretary.  Foreman. 

Dated,  June  g,  1910. 

Based  on  the  opening  paragraph  of  the 
foregoing  presentment,  the  daily  press  of  the 
country  published  the  statement  widely  that 
“ no  organized  traffic  exists  in  New  York,” 
overlooking  the  facts  stated  in  the  presentment 
that  there  is  an  extensive  traffic  carried  on  by 
individuals  who  have  a perfect  understanding 
with  each  other.  An  editorial  in  the  Evening 
Post  thus  puts  it: 

THE  WHITE  SLAVE  REPORT 
It  is  unfortunate  that  Judge  O’Sullivan,  in  his 
address  to  the  Rockefeller  grand  jury  yesterday, 
should  have  been  so  preoccupied  with  the  importance 
of  confuting  the  slanderers  of  the  city  as  to  have 
overlooked  every  aspect  of  the  grand  jury’s  report, 
except  that  which  may  be  utilized  for  this  purpose. 
Even  in  regard  to  the  one  point  to  which  he  con- 
fines himself,  his  citation  of  the  report  does  not  re- 


71 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


fleet  its  character  with  all  desirable  accuracy.  “ Your 
report,”  says  Judge  O’Sullivan,  “is  that  no  or- 
ganized traffic  in  women  exists  in  this  city.”  Doubt- 
less the  learned  judge  intended  this  to  be  understood 
as  meaning  only  that  the  grand  jury  had  declared 
that  it  had  been  unable  to  find  evidence  of  such 
organized  traffic;  and  yet  a large  part  of  the  public 
will  certainly  understand  his  words  as  meaning  more 
than  this.  What  the  grand  jury  said  on  this  point 
was  that  they  had  “ found  no  evidence  of  the  exist- 
ence in  the  County  of  New  York  of  any  organization 
or  organizations,  incorporated  or  otherwise,  engaged 
as  such  in  the  traffic  in  women  for  immoral  pur- 
poses,” nor  “ of  an  organized  traffic  in  women  for 
immoral  purposes.”  And  they  immediately  go  on  to 
say : 

“ It  appears,  on  the  other  hand,  from  indictments 
found  by  us  and  from  the  testimony  of  witnesses, 
that  a trafficking  in  the  bodies  of  women  does  exist 
and  is  carried  on  by  individuals  acting  for  their  own 
individual  benefit,  and  that  these  persons  are  known 
to  each  other  and  are  more  or  less  informally  as- 
sociated. 

“ We  have  also  found  that  associations  and  clubs, 
composed  mainly  or  wholly  from  those  profiting  from 
vice,  have  existed,  and  that  one  such  association  still 
exists.  These  associations  and  clubs  are  analogous 
to  commercial  bodies  in  other  fields,  which,  while  not 
directly  engaged  in  commerce,  are  composed  of  indi- 
viduals, all  of  whom  as  individuals  are  so  engaged.” 

That  there  have  been  exaggerations  in  the  reports 
relating  to  this  horrible  evil  is  not  surprising;  some 


72 


The  White  Slave  Traffic 


of  these  exaggerations  may  have  been  the  result 
of  a desire  to  be  sensational,  others  may  have  been 
perfectly  innocent,  the  result  of  an  imperfect  weigh- 
ing of  evidence.  If  errors  are  committed  by  de- 
nouncers of  evil.  Judge  O’Sullivan  might  find  in  his 
own  case  a warning  against  too  readily  imputing  bad 
motives.  He  himself  made  in  his  address  yesterday 
a frank  retraction  of  an  accusation  against  a court 
officer,  publicly  made  by  him  in  addressing  this  same 
jury  last  week.  It  certainly  would  have  been  much 
easier  for  him  to  ascertain  the  exact  truth  in  re- 
gard to  Mr.  J.  B.  Reynolds  before  making  a charge 
against  him  than  it  can  be  for  an  investigator  of 
widespread  social  evil  to  go  to  the  bottom  of  the 
case  before  drawing  public  attention  to  the  need  of 
reformatory  action.  But  the  question  whether  there 
has  been  exaggeration  or  not  is  by  no  means  the  main 
question.  All  that  the  grand  jury’s  report  does,  on 
the  negative  side,  is  to  admit  that  there  is  no  evi- 
dence of  an  organized  traffic  in  the  commercial  sense 
of  the  word — a full-fledged  combination,  with  regular 
division  of  profits  or  the  like.  But  on  the  positive 
side  it  is  evident  from  the  grand  jury’s  report  that 
there  must  be  a large  number  of  persons,  more  or 
less  closely  associated  with  each  other,  who  carry  on 
the  infamous  business;  and  furthermore,  not  a word 
is  contained  in  the  report  to  diminish  the  well- 
grounded  belief  that  it  is  through  the  protection  of 
district  leaders  and  their  influence  in  the  police  force 
that  this  is  made  possible. 

What  is  the  actual  extent  in  this  city  of  the  par- 
ticular and  most  shocking  evil  known  as  white 


73 


( 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 

slavery,  cannot  be  determined  from  the  report.  That 
this  jury  has  found  six  indictments  coming  distinctly 
under  this  head  is  some  indication.  In  its  general 
statements,  the  jury  speaks  of  the  difficulty  it  has  ex- 
perienced in  getting  legal  evidence  of  actual  cases  of 
the  traffic  owing  to  the  publicity  given  to  the  inquiry 
at  its  inception.  It  has  received  information  that  a 
number  of  “ dealers  ” have  either  temporarily  gone 
out  of  business  or  transferred  their  activities  to  other 
cities.  As  to  other  phases  of  the  question,  closely 
related  to  this,  the  grand  jury’s  report  is  full  of  grave 
and  important  matter.  Its  revelations  about  the  pres- 
ence of  vicious  establishments  in  various  disguised 
forms  are  most  serious,  and  its  recommendations  are 
deserving  of  the  earnest  attention  of  the  civic  au- 
thorities. 

So  far  as  the  public  is  concerned,  it  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  Judge  O’Sullivan’s  remarks,  which  many 
may  read  who  do  not  read  the  report  of  the  grand 
jury,  are  calculated  to  convey  the  impression  that 
nothing  has  been  found  by  the  grand  jury  except 
the  existence  of  prostitution,  and  of  those  accom- 
paniments of  it  which  we  cannot  hope  to  extirpate. 
That  the  report  itself  has  a very  different  color 
might  be  shown  by  many  passages  besides  the  one 
we  have  quoted,  and  in  particular  by  the  following: 

“ Whatever  one  may  think  of  the  woman  who 
adopts  the  profession  of  a prostitute  by  choice,  all 
must  agree  that  the  man  who  in  cold  blood  exploits 
a woman’s  body  for  his  own  support  and  profit  is 
vile  and  despicable  beyond  expression.  Only  through 
the  arousing  of  an  intelligent  and  determined  public 


74 


The  White  Slave  TrafSc 


sentiment  which  will  back  up  the  forces  of  law  in 
their  efforts  to  ferret  out  and  bring  to  justice  the 
members  of  this  debased  class  is  there  hope  of  stamp- 
ing out  these  vilest  of  human  beings  found  to-day 
in  the  leading  cities  of  this  and  other  lands.” 

By  increasing  the  severity  of  the  law,  by  adminis- 
tering it  with  vigor,  and  above  all  by  stamping  out 
relentlessly  all  connection  between  this  vile  trade 
and  politics,  we  may  hope  to  put  an  end  to  the  in- 
famy; we  shall  never  do  so  by  either  denying  its 
existence,  or  venting  a wrathful  indignation  over  the 
fact  that  some  people  have  said  things  about  it  which 
are  not  strictly  true. 


75 


-i 


Part  II 

THE  SOURCES  OF  THE  TRAFFIC 


6 


THE  SOURCES  OF  THE  TRAFFIC 


VI 

The  Underlying  Causes 

It  is  an  accepted  axiom  that  the  best  way  to 
eradicate  an  evil  is  to  remove  its  cause.  Let 
us  now,  therefore,  direct  our  attention  to  the 
causes  that  have  produced  the  white  slave 
traffic  and  which  lie  at  its  root,  with  the  hope 
that  when  they  are  once  laid  bare  and  under- 
stood they  may  be  removed. 

A study  of  the  conditions  that  surround  the 
traffic  reveals  the  fact  that  it  is  not  simply  a 
case  of  the  selling  and  buying  of  a human 
being  against  her  will,  but  that  the  situation 
is  an  exceedingly  complex  one.  It  touches 
closely  upon  the  social  life  of  the  community ; 
it  involves  the  merchant ; it  is  very  much  mixed 
up  with  politics ; it  has  a decided  influence 
upon  the  public  health.  In  a word,  vice  is 


79 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


now  commercialized  and  touches  life  at  many 
points. 

To  conduct  the  white  slave  traffic  with  suc- 
cess means  that  money  must  go  to  the  house 
owner  or  tenant,  the  real  estate  agent,  the  sa- 
loon, the  dance  hall,  the  procurer,  the  police, 
the  physician,  the  lawyer,  many  merchants, 
the  telephone  and  messenger  service  and  the 
transportation  companies. 

It  is  not  the  “ demand  and  supply  ” which 
makes  the  public  tolerate  the  white  slave  traffic 
and  kindred  evils,  but  ignorance,  indifference, 
business  interests  and  political  expediency — 
things  which  we  are  learning  are  undermining 
political  freedom  and  economic  independence 
as  well  as  menacing  the  moral  integrity  of 
men,  women  and  children.* 

The  double  standard  of  morality  which  has 
been  accepted  more  or  less  calmly  by  those 
whom  the  law  can  touch — the  women — and 
as  a matter  of  course,  by  those  whom  it  seldom 

* See  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Fourteen  (The 
Social  Evil). 


8o 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 

touches — the  men  who  make  it — will  have  to 
be  made  single  if  one  underlying  cause  of  the 
white  slave  traffic  is  to  be  removed.  At  the 
present  time,  lack  of  self-control  in  the  man, 
which  is  sheer  weakness,  can  ruin  a woman’s 
life,  push  her  down  into  the  depths  of  im- 
morality, send  her  into  what  he  calls  a “ court 
of  justice,”  created  by  him,  where  she  is  pun- 
ished for  gratifying  his  desires ; and  the  man 
will  be  left  untouched  by  this  court  which  dis- 
penses “ justice,”  to  send  others  along  the  same 
path  as  often  as  he  chooses.  There  is  igno- 
rance here  on  the  part  of  men — an  over- 
powering consciousness  of  the  physical  side  of 
life — and  on  the  part  of  women,  a lack  of  self- 
respect  and  of  the  realization  of  the  dignity  of 
womanhood  just  as  overpowering.  The  law 
must  be  made  to  apply  equally  to  men  and 
women. 

Poverty,  which  fosters  bad  housing  condi- 
tions and  makes  it  necessary  for  a family  of 
four  or  five  to  be  herded  together  in  one  or 
two  rooms,  breeds  immorality.  “ In  tenement 


8i 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


houses,  the  communistic  publicity  of  personal 
contact  turns  the  whole  task  of  cultivating 
protective  modesty  into  a tragedy.” 

There  is  shortsightedness  and  a failure  to 
grasp  the  significance  of  the  part  recreation 
plays  in  the  world  of  working  people  when 
immoral  moving  picture  shows,  and  dance 
halls,  and  amusement  parks  are  tacitly  en- 
couraged to  do  a flourishing  business,  because 
the  same  kind  of  decent  amusement  is  not  to 
be  found  elsewhere.  The  lax  laws  which 
deal  with  the  question,  or  the  fact  of  the  ex- 
istence of  no  direct  legislation  whatever,  must 
also  receive  consideration. 


82 


VII 


The  Wrong  Training  of  Children 

The  foundation  of  this  evil  may  truly  be 
said  to  be  laid  in  early  childhood,  in  the  un- 
wise methods  of  training  adopted  by  multi- 
tudes of  parents,  which  fosters  the  selfish  spirit 
of  the  boy  and  leads  him  to  consider  that  he  is 
the  centre  of  his  world,  and  that  every  will 
must  bend  to  his ; that  every  whim  must  be 
gratified,  and  everything  tend  to  his  own  com- 
fort, pleasure  and  aggrandizement.  Thus  is 
born  and  nurtured  the  spirit  of  selfish  greed 
which  lies  at  the  root  of  this  evil. 

Indeed,  there  are  very  few  homes  in  which 
adequate  instruction  is  given  to  girls  as  to  the 
dangers  that  threaten  them,  and  this  is  one  of 
the  causes  of  the  present  condition.  It  is 
quite  true  that  girls  are  sometimes  victimized 
when  they  are  aware  of  the  danger,  but  in 
most  instances,  those  who  know  the  danger 


83 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


will  not  put  themselves  into  a position  of  risk. 
Those  who  are  not  warned,  escape  only 
through  fortuitous  circumstances  or  the  pro- 
tective spirit  which  nestles  at  the  heart  of 
every  true  man. 

Instances  are  not  uncommon  in  which  a 
girl  returning  late  at  night  has  been  refused 
entrance  into  her  father’s  home,  or  actually 
turned  out  of  the  house  after  some  indiscre- 
tion, perhaps  not  really  serious. 

Parents  often  have  the  mistaken  idea  that 
in  keeping  their  children  ignorant  of  the  origin 
and  facts  of  life,  they  are  protecting  them  from 
knowledge  of  evil  things.  The  truth  of  the 
matter  is  that  their  sons  and  daughters  are 
having  these  facts  suggested  to  them  from  in- 
numerable sources  and  frequently  in  the  worst 
possible  way.  Often  they  reach  a conclusion 
that  is  sometimes  astounding,  and  very  often 
this  is  the  beginning  of  the  end.  A child’s 
questions  should  not  be  answered  by  the  story 
of  the  stork  bringing  the  baby,  or  the  doctor 
having  it  in  his  bag ; but  instead  of  being  si- 


84 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


lenced  with  such  antique  falsehoods  at  the 
time  when  he  is  wondering  aloud  he  should 
have  his  perfectly  healthy  and  normal  curiosity 
satisfied  by  truthful  answers ; then  he  will  not 
dwell  on  reproduction  as  a strange  and  unnat- 
ural thing,  but  it  can  all  be  made  very  wonder- 
ful to  him  by  his  mother  and  father,  and  rever- 
ence for  the  power  that  exists  in  his  own  body 
will  save  him  from  the  suffering  of  a perverted 
mind. 

The  carelessness  and  lack  of  common  sense 
shown  by  multitudes  of  parents  in  the  over- 
sight of  their  girls  is  almost  beyond  belief. 
Young  girls  are  often  dressed  in  such  a man- 
ner as  to  attract  notice  and  comment,  and  are 
then  allowed  to  frequent  railroad  stations  and 
other  public  places  unattended,  or  with  silly 
companions.  On  such  occasions,  facile  oppor- 
tunity is  afforded  for  them  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  procurers,  who  are  ever  on  the 
watch  for  victims. 

The  flood  of  improper  literature,  reaching 
the  young  on  every  side,  leads  the  immature 


85 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


mind  to  adopt  false  standards  of  living  and 
throws  a glamour  over  vice.  Such  reading 
is  one  of  the  influences  which  fosters  the  white 
slave  traffic  and,  indeed,  lies  at  the  root  of 
much  of  it. 


86 


VIII 

The  Dangers  of  the  City 

Harry  A.  Parkin,  Assistant  U.  S.  District 
Attorney  of  Chicago,  from  his  experience  as 
prosecuting  officer,  speaks  as  follows : 

As  a prosecuting  officer,  I personally  can  testify 
to  the  fact  that  very  many  cities  and  villages  now 
have  in  the  red-light  district  of  Chicago  and  other 
cities,  daughters  who,  if  their  names  were  mentioned 
in  their  home  cities,  would  bring  shame  and  dis- 
grace to  prominent  and  honest  people.  There  are 
girls  from  cities  in  the  interior,  girls  from  small 
villages  with  hardly  a thousand  inhabitants,  up  to 
cities  of  the  size  of  Boston  and  Pittsburg,  and  other 
great  commercial  and  social  centers.  I shall  not  pub- 
lish a comparative  list,  but  a list  of  cities  scattered 
broadcast  from  which  have  come  girls  and  women  to 
the  great  white  slave  market  in  Chicago  within  my 
personal  experience,  as  follows:  Toledo,  Youngs- 
town, Detroit,  Muskegon,  Montreal,  Troy,  Milwau- 
kee, Peoria,  Bloomington,  St.  Louis,  Pittsburg,  New 
York,  Davenport,  Moline  (111.),  Livonia  (Pa.), 
Whitehall  (Mich.),  Waseka  (Minn.),  Charleston 
(111.). 

I know  that  the  above  statement  will  cause  a thrill 
in  some  of  the  cities  which  I have  mentioned,  but  I 
believe  that  the  agitation  upon  the  white  slave  ques- 
tion has  reached  a point  where  false  modesty  should 

87 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


no  longer  prevent  the  public  from  knowing  the  exact 
situation,  however  much  it  may  cause  them  to  feel 
a sense  of  regret  that  their  village  or  city  has  fur- 
nished at  least  one  victim  to  the  sisters  of  scarlet. 

I might  make  a list  of  five  or  six  times  as  large, 
but  the  one  given  will  serve  the  purpose  of  sounding 
a warning  to  those  who  least  suspect  that  their 
daughters  and  sisters  are  in  danger. 

As  I have  said,  some  of  the  cities,  much  to  their 
shame,  have  furnished  for  the  houses  of  prostitution 
in  Chicago  more  girls  than  others.  For  example, 
I have  known  for  a long  time  that  the  cities  of 
Montreal,  Toledo  and  Youngstown  (Ohio), and  Pitts- 
burg, have  furnished  probably  a greater  average  by 
one-third  than  any  of  the  other  cities.  This,  of 
course,  does  not  include  New  York,  for  probably 
more  women  come  from  New  York  to  Chicago  for 
the  purpose  of  entering  a house  of  prostitution  than 
from  any  other  city.  This  is  true  because  it  has  an 
extremely  large  population,  and  also  because  of  the 
fact  that  it  is  largely  through  the  port  of  New  York 
that  the  alien  prostitutes  are  brought  into  the  United 
States,  and  thence  to  Chicago. 

Troy  (N.  Y.)  is  a prolific  source  from  which 
Chicago  houses  receive  women.  In  a case  recently 
tried  in  the  Federal  Courts,  the  testimony  showed 
that  one  girl  who  had  been  found  in  a house  of  vice 
in  Chicago  had  originally  been  taken  to  a house  at 
Troy,  and  from  that  day,  when  she  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  until  she  was  arrested  in  Chicago  some 
five  years  later,  she  had  been  in  the  clutches  of,  or 
under  the  control  of,  the  different  members  of  a 


88 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


single  family  who  had  kept  her  earning  money  for 
them  during  all  these  years.  The  peaceful  village 
of  Charleston,  in  southern  Illinois,  has  furnished  to 
the  panderers  of  lust  a beautiful  Norwegian  girl 
whose  parents  imagine  that  she  is  engaged  in  a 
legitimate  occupation  in  Chicago. 

Now  a word  as  to  the  method  used  in  procuring 
girls  from  our  American  cities.  It  is  not  always 
necessary  for  the  procurer  to  go  from  the  city  to 
the  country  village  to  get  the  girl  he  is  seeking. 
Indulgent  parents  very  often  permit  their  daughters 
to  come  to  the  great  city  unaccompanied  by  any  pro- 
tector. The  Sunday  excursion,  a World’s  Fair,  some 
theatrical  production,  a monstrous  convention — these 
are  the  lights  that  allure  the  daughter  and  sister  to 
the  city.  Perhaps  she  has  never  been  in  the  city 
before  and  has  no  relatives  or  friends  to  whose  house 
she  may  go.  She  will  oftentimes  be  met  at  the  rail- 
road station  by  a young  man,  well-dressed  and 
affable,  who  offers  to  procure  her  a cab  to  take  her 
to  some  respectable  hotel.  Unexperienced  in  the 
ways  of  the  city  she  accepts,  only  to  find  that  instead 
of  a protector  she  has  found  in  the  affable  young 
man  a procurer  for  some  vile  house  of  prostitution. 
Many,  many  times  have  instances  like  this  occurred, 
and  the  innocent  young  girl  has  awakened  the  next 
morning  to  find  herself  the  prey  and  victim  of  her 
procurer. 

Or  it  may  be  that  the  girl  from  the  country  is 
making  a second  or  third  visit  to  the  kind  and  elderly 
lady  who  met  her  and  so  kindly  cared  for  her  upon 
her  last  visit.  This  lady  usually  occupies  a fiat  within 

89 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


easy  reach  of  the  red-light  district.  It  is  sumptuously 
furnished,  and,  as  is  explained,  is  a home  for  several 
young  ladies  who  are  working  in  stores  in  the  city. 
Here  the  country  maiden  is  given  every  luxury  free 
of  expense,  is  entertained  royally,  and,  alas,  very 
many  times  before  she  attempts  to  leave  for  her 
home  has  been  caught  unawares  and  so  compromised 
that  she  dare  not  face  her  home  folk  again. 

Here  we  get  a clue  as  to  the  whereabouts 
of  many  “ lost  girls.” 

Numerous  instances  occur  in  which  farmers 
with  large  families  have  urged  their  daughters, 
when  about  grown,  to  seek  situations  in  a 
neighboring  city,  into  the  teeming  life  of  which 
they  go  to  meet  temptations  for  which  they  are 
unfortified,  and  to  encounter  dangers  which 
their  unfamiliarity  with  city  conditions  per- 
mits them  to  go  into  unsuspectingly.  One 
such  instance  is  cited  here  as  typical: 

A white  slave  trader,  posing  as  an  insurance  agent, 
visited  several  villages  in  one  locality.  Learning  that 
one  of  the  girls  to  whom  he  had  managed  to  get 
introduced  was  going  to  take  a position  in  a shop 
in  a town  about  fifty  miles  from  her  home,  he 
boarded  the  train  upon  which  she  started  her  journey. 
Ostensibly  happening  to  be  going  to  Chicago  that 


go 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


day  and  recognizing  her,  he  took  a seat  beside  the 
girl,  who  was  just  making  her  first  venture  into  the 
business  world.  Naturally  a little  excited  and  eager 
to  prove  her  ability,  she  was  easily  drawn  to  talk  of 
her  prospective  place  of  employment,  and  replied 
quite  frankly  to  his  questions.  Expressing  surprise 
that  the  salary  was  so  small,  he  professed  great  re- 
gret that  he  had  not  known  she  was  going  to  take 
such  a position,  because  he  happened  to  know  of  a 
remarkably  good  opening  in  a well-known  store  in 
Chicago.  He  said  he  was  connected  with  the  firm 
and  knew  that  he  could  get  the  place  for  her;  that 
it  was  an  unusual  opportunity  which  unfortunately 
could  not  be  held  open  another  day  as  there  were 
many  applicants ; that  the  salary  was  almost  double 
the  wage  she  would  receive  at  the  place  for  which 
she  has  started ; and  that  there  was  promise  of 
rapid  promotion.  What  wonder  that  the  girl  finally 
was  persuaded  that  her  parents  would  be  pleased 
with  her  enterprising  spirit  if  she  would  go  right  on 
to  secure  that  position.  Quite  unfamiliar  with  the 
city,  and  unsuspicious  of  danger,  upon  their  arrival 
at  Chicago  she  went  with  this  man  to  a restaurant 
in  the  red-light  district.  Here,  fortunately  for  her, 
two  vigilant  social  workers  noticed  them,  and  the 
arrest  that  followed  was  in  time  to  save  the  girl. 
Upon  investigation,  it  was  found  that  this  trader 
was  carrying  on  an  extensive  business  as  a white 
slave  procurer,  frequenting  small  towns  and  country 
villages  to  find  girls  who  could  be  lured  by  promise 
of  employment. 


91 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


In  his  book,  “ Panderers  and  their  White 
Slaves,”  Mr.  Roe  has  told  a number  of  stories 
of  this  method  of  luring  girls  into  houses  of 
vice. 

That  employment  agencies  are  sometimes 
used  as  stations  on  the  road  to  vice  has  been 
proved  by  a series  of  investigations  made  in 
New  York,  Washington  and  elsewhere.  Girls, 
ignorant  of  conditions  in  a city,  are  thus  easily 
entrapped. 

Licenses  have  been  revoked  for  agencies 
which  have  sent  girls  to  houses  of  prostitution, 
and  government  officials  in  more  than  one  sec- 
tion found  agents  who  were  willing  to  send 
girls  to  work  in  such  places  on  payment  of  a 
higher  fee. 

Needless  to  say  New  York  City  is  not  the 
only  place  where  constant  supervision  is 
needed ; small  towns  in  other  States  have  been 
used  as  recruiting  grounds,  and  laws  have  been 
passed  designed  to  meet  the  situation.  The 
New  York  law  governing  employment  agen- 
cies may  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  page  193. 


92 


IX 

Hard  Times  and  Low  Wages 

In  a time  when  many  are  out  of  work,  and 
at  all  times  when  the  wages  of  girls  and 
women  are  low,  the  traffic  in  women  flourishes. 
First,  because  many  young  men  are  idle  and 
turn  to  this  trade,  vile  as  it  is,  because  there 
is  easy  money  in  it ; and,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  girls  who  are  out  of  work,  or  who  are 
working  for  trifling  wages,  are  the  more  easily 
victimized. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  economic  con- 
ditions is  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  the  white 
slave  traffic.  The  persuasions  of  the  procurer 
are  made  alluring  when  they  offer  high  wages 
to  a girl  who  is  out  of  a job,  or  to  one  who 
labors  long  hours  for  a pittance.  Were  it  pos- 
sible for  every  girl  who  needs  work  to  be  able 
to  get  it  at  a fair  rate  of  wages,  the  business  of 
the  procurer  would  be  materially  lessened.  To 
the  honor  and  credit  of  girls  in  America  be  it 


7 


93 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


said,  that  notwithstanding  all  the  suffering, 
privation  and  temptations  they  must  endure, 
comparatively  few  of  them  fall,  but  many  of 
those  who  do  are  victims  of  the  white  slaver. 
So  remunerative  is  his  “ business,”  however, 
that  the  procurer  will  continue  in  it  until  the 
strong  hand  of  the  law  forces  him  to  quit. 

In  McClure’s  Magazine  for  November,  1910, 
is  an  article  on  “ Working-girls’  Budgets.” 
The  following  instances  are  given  as  being  not 
at  all  unusual : 

Rea  Lupatkin,  a shirtwaist  maker  of  nineteen,  had 
been  in  New  York  only  ten  months,  and  was  at  first 
a finisher  in  a cloak  factory.  Afterward,  obtaining 
work  as  operator  in  a waist  factory,  she  could  get 
$4.00  in  fifty-six  hours  on  a time  basis.  She  had  been 
in  this  factory  six  weeks. 

Rea  was  paying  $4.00  a month  for  lodging  in  two 
rooms  of  a tenement  house  with  a man  and  his  wife 
and  baby  and  little  boy.  She  saved  carfare  bj''  a 
walk  of  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  adding  daily  one 
and  a half  hours  to  the  nine  and  a half  already  spent 
in  operating.  Her  food  cost  $2.25  a week,  so  that, 
with  93  cents  a week  for  lodging,  her  regular  weekly 
cost  of  living  was  $3.18,  leaving  her  82  cents  for 
every  other  expense.  In  spite  of  this,  and  although 
she  had  been  forced  to  spend  $3.00  for  examination 


94 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


of  her  eyes  and  for  eye-glasses,  Rea  contrived  to 
send  an  occasional  $2.00  back  to  her  family  in  Europe. 

Ida  Bergeson,  a little  girl  of  fifteen,  was  visited 
at  half  past  eight  o’clock  one  evening  in  a tenement 
on  the  lower  East  Side.  The  gas  was  burning 
brightly  in  the  room;  several  people  were  talking, 
and  this  frail  looking  little  Ida  lay  on  a couch  in 
their  midst,  sleeping  in  all  the  noise  and  light,  in 
complete  exhaustion.  Her  sister  said  that  every 
night  the  child  returned  from  the  factory  utterly 
worn  out,  she  was  obliged  to  work  so  hard  and 
so  fast. 

Ida  received  $6.00  a week.  She  worked  fifty-six 
hours  a week — eight  more  than  the  law  allows  for 
minors.  She  paid  $4.00  a week  for  board  and  a 
room  shared  with  the  anxious  older  sister  who  told 
about  her  experience.  Ida  needed  all  the  rest  of  her 
$2.00  for  her  clothing.  She  did  her  own  washing. 
As  the  inquirer  came  away,  leaving  the  worn  little 
girl  sleeping  in  her  utter  fatigue,  she  wondered 
with  what  strength  Ida  could  enter  upon  her  pos- 
sible marriage  and  motherhood — whether,  indeed, 
she  would  struggle  through  to  maternity. 

Katia  Halperian,  a shirtwaist  worker  of  fifteen, 
had  been  in  New  York  only  six  months.  During 
twenty-one  weeks  of  this  time  she  was  employed  in 
a Wooster  Street  factory,  earning  for  a week  of 
954-hour  days  only  $3.50.  Katia  was  a “trimmer.” 

After  paying  $3.00  a week  board  to  an  aunt,  she 
had  a surplus  of  50  cents  for  all  clothing,  recreation, 
doctor’s  bills  and  incidentals. 

To  save  carfare  she  walked  to  her  work — about 


95 


The  White  Slave  Traflic  in  America 


forty  minutes’  distance.  Her  aunt  lived  on  the  fourth 
floor  of  a tenement.  After  working  nine  and  a half 
hours  and  walking  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes 
daily,  Katia  climbed  four  flights  of  stairs  and  then 
helped  with  the  housework. 

One  of  these  girls,  working  every  day  in 
the  year,  would  receive  $182.00;  another, 
$208.00;  and  the  one  best  paid,  $312.00.  At 
a conservative  estimate,  the  lowest  living  wage, 
requisite  to  maintain  the  decencies  of  physical 
existence  in  a city,  for  a self-supporting,  self- 
respecting  woman  is  $600.00  a year. 


96 


X 

Amusements 

It  is  quite  right  that  young  people  should 
have  amusements.  This  is  especially  true  of 
those  who  work  hard  all  day  in  ill-lighted  and 
poorly  ventilated  rooms.  Unless  life  has  some 
brightness  and  companionship  in  a social  way, 
it  becomes  unbearable. 

But  it  is  also  true  that  most  of  the  places 
of  amusement  provided  for  the  working  class 
in  our  cities  are  open  to  serious  objection.  The 
most  popular  is  the  dance  hall,  to  which  multi- 
tudes of  girls  flock  every  evening.  Here  is 
one  of  the  most  important  recruiting  grounds 
of  the  white  slaver.  It  is  possible,  under  the 
easy  etiquette  that  prevails,  for  men  to  become 
acquainted  with  girls  and  to  dance  with  them. 
Too  frequently  an  opportunity  is  thus  afforded 
to  lead  them  astray. 

Furthermore,  at  nearly  all  of  these  dance 
halls,  intoxicating  liquor  is  sold.  Here  the 


97 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


girl  often  learns  to  drink,  and  under  this  in- 
fluence is  the  more  easily  induced  to  acquiesce 
in  the  designs  of  her  betrayer.  It  is  possible 
that  “ knockout  drops  ” may  be  added  to  the 
drinks  with  the  intention  of  still  further  blind- 
ing the  judgment  of  the  victim,  but  usually  the 
stupefying  effect  of  the  liquor  alone  is  quite 
sufficient. 

The  steamboat  excursion  offers  another  op- 
portunity for  the  exploiting  of  girls  and  lead- 
ing them  into  evil  ways. 

The  low  theatre  with  its  vulgar  plays  and 
associations,  and  the  moving  picture  shows 
which  have  sprung  up  like  mushrooms  all  over 
the  land — 300  of  them  running  in  New  York 
City  alone — are  dangerous  places  for  young 
girls  to  attend  unescorted.  It  has  been  found, 
on  investigation,  that  the  danger  consists  not 
so  much  in  the  character  of  the  views  shown — 
although  they  need  watching — as  that  oppor- 
tunity is  afforded  within  the  darkened  hall, 
and  about  the  doors,  for  men  to  become  ac- 

98 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


quainted  with  girls  who  are  there  without 
proper  guardianship. 

There  is  no  desire  on  our  part  to  lay  a 
charge  against  ice  cream  saloons,  candy  stores, 
etc.,  but  while  most  of  these  are  perfectly 
reputable,  it  seems  necessary  to  state  that 
some  of  these  places,  like  the  moving  picture 
shows,  when  visited  by  young  girls,  unat- 
tended, or  with  careless  companions,  offer  fa- 
cilities for  forming  acquaintances  which  are 
often  dangerous.  Besides,  there  is  a risk  of 
becoming  interested  in  unguarded  ways  of 
living  that  are  dangerous  to  young  people. 

Not  only  are  restaurants  and  ice  cream 
saloons  utilized  by  the  procurer,  but,  as  has 
been  said,  the  “ massage  parlor  ” is  often  an 
unsafe  place  for  young  women  to  visit.  Inno- 
cent women  are  lured  by  advertisements  for 
operators.  Papers  are  published  and  widely 
circulated  in  which  the  names  and  addresses 
of  these  houses  are  advertised. 

The  temperance  forces  throughout  the 
United  States  are  being  strengthened,  and 


99 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


every  gain  here  is  a step  toward  the  suppres- 
sion of  vice ; but  there  is  need  for  intelligent 
study  of  the  relation  of  the  saloon  and  the 
Raines-law  hotel,  to  the  white  slave  traffic. 
The  Committee  of  Fourteen  of  New  York,  in 
the  report  of  its  Research  Committee,  entitled 
“ The  Social  Evil  in  New  York  City,”  have 
this  to  say  concerning  the  rise  of  Raines-law 
hotels  and  their  methods  of  conducting  busi- 
ness : 

Seldom  has  a law  intended  to  regulate  one  evil 
resulted  in  so  aggravating  a phase  of  another  evil 
directly  traceable  to  its  provisions.  From  the  passage 
of  this  law  dates  the  immediate  growth  of  one  of 
the  most  insidious  forms  of  the  social  evil — the 
Raines-law  hotel.  This  growth  was  due  to  a heavy 
increase  in  the  penalties  for  a violation  and  the  ex- 
pected increased  enforcement  of  the  law  by  State 
authorities  beyond  the  reach  of  local  influences.  To 
illustrate,  the  license  tax  was  raised  from  $200  to 
$800,  and  the  penalty  of  a forfeiture  of  a bond  was 
also  added.*  To  escape  these  drastic  penalties  for 


* This  $800  fee  was  imposed  in  IManhattan  and 
the  Bronx,  and  was  the  rate  established  by  the 
Raines  law  at  the  time  of  its  passage.  The  rate  of 
$200  was  the  tax  for  saloons  prior  to  the  passage  of 
the  Raines  law. 


100 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


the  selling  of  liquor  on  Sunday  in  saloons,  saloon 
keepers  created  hotels  with  the  required  ten  bed- 
rooms, kitchen  and  dining  room.  The  immediate 
increase  was  over  10,000  bedrooms.  There  being 
no  actual  demand  for  such  an  increase  in  hotel  ac- 
commodations, the  proprietors,  in  many  instances, 
used  them  for  purposes  of  assignation  or  prostitu- 
tion to  meet  the  additional  expense  incurred.  In 
1905  there  were  1407  certified  hotels  in  Manhattan 
and  the  Bronx,  and  of  these  about  1150  were  prob- 
ably liquor  law  hotels.  In  1906  an  important  admin- 
istrative provision  was  added  to  the  law.  This 
amendment,  known  as  the  Prentice  bill,  provided 
that  hotels  must  be  inspected  and  passed  by  the 
Building  Department  as  complying  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  law  before  a certificate  could  be  issued 
to  them.  As  a result  of  this  new  legislation,  540 
alleged  hotels  were  discontinued  in  Manhattan  and 
the  Bronx.  A large  number  of  these  places,  how- 
ever, continued  under  saloon  licenses.  For  further 
details  see  Appendix,  page  195. 


lOl 


XI 


Employment  Agencies 

One  of  the  recruiting  stations  for  the  white 
slave  traffic  is  the  unscrupulously  conducted 
employment  office.  Investigation  has  shown 
that  girls  seeking  employment  are  often  sent  to 
places  where  they  are  entrapped.  Frequently 
agents  take  advantage  of  the  craze  which  so 
many  girls  have  for  going  on  the  stage,  and 
offer  them  places  in  theatrical  or  concert 
troupes  in  a distant  city  away  from  their 
friends.  In  one  instance,  a girl  was  sent  to 
Norfolk,  Va.,  from  Philadelphia,  and  was 
placed  in  a dive  in  that  city  so  low  and  vile 
that  when  rescued,  as  she  was  in  a few  days, 
she  was  unfit  for  decent  society. 

In  another  instance,  a girl,  well  educated 
and  of  good  family,  living  in  Seattle,  made  an 
engagement  with  an  agent  to  join  a theatrical 
company  in  New  York,  he  paying  her  fare 


102 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 

to  that  city.  She  was  saved  from  ruin  at  the 
moment  when  she  was  about  to  enter  the  house 
of  which  she  had  the  address,  through  the 
kindness  of  a New  York  cab  driver,  who  in- 
formed her  of  the  character  of  the  place.  Had 
he  not  done  so,  another  name  would  have  been 
added  to  the  long  list  of  lost  girls. 


103 


XII 


Tolerated  Vice  in  Cities 

We  have  touched  upon  the  intimate  rela- 
tions of  politics  to  the  traffic.  No  procurer 
could  continue  his  operations  without  some 
sort  of  an  understanding  with  the  police,  who 
are  in  turn  controlled  by  the  political  chiefs, 
and  they  by  the  Boss.  The  procurer,  as  has 
been  said,  is  a useful  member  of  the  political 
machine.  In  studying  this  phase  of  the  sub- 
ject, we  come  upon  an  apparently  inextricable 
combination  of  politics,  social  evil,  white  slave 
traffic,  police  and  police  courts,  law  and  prece- 
dent ; and,  on  the  part  of  the  public,  ignorance, 
prejudice  and  indifference.  Of  one  thing  we 
are  sure — that  the  traffic  in  women  exists — 
that  it,  together  with  prostitution,  furnishes 
a large  part  of  the  power  and  money  of  the 
local  boss,  and  that  the  “ man  higher  up  ” 
must  be  held  to  a full  responsibilit}-. 

No  doubt  can  exist  in  the  mind  of  anyone 

104 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 

who  knows  the  facts,  that  the  presence  of 
houses  of  prostitution  in  our  cities  fosters  the 
traffic  in  women,  and  is,  to  a great  degree,  re- 
sponsible for  it. 

As  has  been  stated  previously,  the  unfortu- 
nate inmates  of  such  houses  do  not  live  many 
years.  After  they  are  about  twenty-five  years 
of  age  they  no  longer  serve  to  attract,  and  are 
dismissed  to  other  scenes.  Their  ranks  are 
to  be  filled,  but  how?  Few  come  to  these 
houses  voluntarily.  They  are  first  deceived, 
betrayed  and  placed  there,  or  they  are  lured 
into  them,  sold  into  them,  or  forced  into  them. 
This  constitutes  one  of  the  principal  sources 
of  the  white  slave  traffic. 

Then,  again,  there  must  be  a market  for  the 
trafficker,  and  he  has  usually  no  difficulty  in 
finding  a place  to  sell  his  victim.  This  is  one 
of  the  chief  iniquities  of  permitting  houses  of 
prostitution  to  exist ; they  furnish  a ready 
market  for  the  sale  of  young  girls.  They 
stand  as  a constant  menace  to  womanhood  as 
well  as  manhood. 


105 


XIII 


Immigration  and  the  Traffic 

In  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1910,  there 
were  1,041,750  immigrants  who  reached  our 
shore,  about  one- third  of  them  women.  316 
immoral  women  and  179  procurers  of  women 
were  rejected  in  1910.  308  immoral  women 

and  65  procurers  were  apprehended  within  the 
country  and  deported  during  1910.  There 
were  removed  to  the  countries  of  origin  1580, 
compared  with  a total  of  1138  for  the  preced- 
ing year,  and  213  for  1908.*  Some  of  the 
women  who  came  for  such  a purpose  doubt- 
less escaped  the  vigilant  eye  of  the  immigra- 
tion inspector.  Others,  unfortunately  a large 
number,  fell  into  the  ruthless  hands  of  the 
white  slaver  after  landing. 

The  investigations  of  all  who  have  studied 

* Quoted  from  the  report  of  the  Commissioner 
General  of  Immigration. 

106 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 


the  situation  show  that  a very  large  majority 
of  those  who  are  victimized  thus  are  foreign- 
ers. Often  without  watchful  friends,  provided 
with  little  money,  which  melts  away  with 
alarming  rapidity,  accustomed  to  obeying  the 
orders  of  men  without  question,  ignorant  of 
English,  and  the  laws  and  customs  of  this  new 
land  which  they  have  entered,  they  are  ready 
and  tempting  victims  to  a man  who  promises 
much,  and  who  speaks  to  them  in  their  own 
tongue.  So,  from  the  thronged  dance  halls  of 
the  East  Side  of  New  York  City,  from  the 
beer  gardens  of  South  Chicago,  from  the  holds 
of  vessels  in  which  dazed  Oriental  girls  are 
smuggled  in,  from  the  railroad  trains  on  which 
bewildered  immigrants  are  rushed  to  unknown 
and  far-away  places  with  strange  names,  the 
trafficker  gathers  up  his  victims  and  exploits 
them. 

The  resorts  of  every  city  are  full  of  foreign 
girls,  almost  every  nationality  is  represented, 
and  nearly  all  of  them  have  reached  there 
through  force  or  fraud.  Some  agent  was 


107 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


active  in  the  process,  and  he  was  paid  for  his 
trouble.  An  idea  of  the  magnitude  and  extent 
of  the  white  slave  traffic  in  America  is  herein 
to  be  obtained. 


io8 


XIV 

Steerage  Conditions 


The  process  of  procuring  alien  girls  begins 
even  before  landing.  In  a report  to  Congress, 
December  13,  1909,  by  the  Immigration  Com- 
mission, on  conditions  to  which  immigrants 
are  subjected  in  the  steerage  of  transatlantic 
steamers,  it  is  stated: 

The  old-type  steerage  is  the  one  whose  horrors 
have  been  so  often  described.  It  is,  unfortunately, 
still  found  in  a majority  of  the  vessels  bringing  im- 
migrants to  the  United  States,  in  which  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  immigrants  form  their  first  conception 
of  our  country. 

Considering  this  old-type  steerage  as  a whole,  it 
is  a congestion  so  intense,  so  injurious  to  health  and 
morals,  that  there  is  nothing  on  land  to  equal  it. 
That  people  live  in  it  temporarily  is  no  justification 
of  its  existence.  The  experience  of  a single  cross- 
ing is  enough  to  change  bad  standards  of  living  to 
worse.  It  is  more  than  a physical  and  moral  test,  it 
is  a strain,  and  surely  it  is  not  the  introduction  to 
American  institutions  that  will  tend  to  make  them 
respected. 


8 


109 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


One  inspector  who  made  the  passage  in  the 
steerage  by  direction  of  the  Commission  says ; 

From  the  time  we  boarded  the  steamer  until  we 
landed,  no  woman  in  the  steerage  had  a moment’s 
privacy.  One  steward  was  always  on  duty  in  our 
apartment,  and  others  of  the  crew  came  and  went 
continually.  The  entrance  was  also  the  only  exit 
While  we  were  rising  and  dressing,  several  men 
usually  passed  through  and  returned  for  no  osten- 
sible reason.  If  a woman  were  dressing,  they  always 
stopped  to  watch  her,  and  frequently  hit  and  handled 
her. 

One  night  when  I had  retired  very  earl}'-  with  a 
severe  cold,  the  chief  steward  entered  our  com- 
partment, but  not  noticing  me  approached  a Polish 
girl,  who  was  apparently  the  only  occupant.  She 
spoke  in  English  saying,  “ My  head  aches — please 
go  and  let  me  alone.”  But  he  merely  stood  on,  and 
soon  was  taking  unwarranted  liberties  with  her.  The 
girl,  weakened  by  sea-sickness,  defended  herself  as 
best  she  could,  but  was  soon  struggling  to  get  out 
of  the  man’s  arms.  Just  then  other  passengers  en- 
tered and  he  released  her.  Such  was  the  man  who 
was  our  highest  protector  and  court  of  appeal. 

The  atmosphere  was  one  of  general  lawlessness 
and  total  disrespect  for  women.  It  naturally  de- 
moralized the  women  themselves  after  a while.  Peo- 
ple cannot  live  in  such  surroundings  and  not  be 
influenced. 


no 


The  Sources  of  the  Traffic 

Such  a prelude  to  life  in  America  opens  the 
way  to  a life  of  immorality  here. 

In  this  review  of  the  causes  of  the  traffic 
in  women  in  America,  only  the  most  important 
ones  have  been  emphasized.  It  will  be  noted 
that  they  are  many,  and  only  those  who  can 
grasp  the  fact  that  they  are  all  inextricably 
bound  up  with  one  another,  and  that  the  elimi- 
nation of  one  cause  will  not  mean  that  the 
traffic  in  women  has  been  suppressed,  are  able 
to  see  the  problem  in  its  true  proportions. 


THE  SUPPRESSION  AND  PREVEN- 
TION OF  THE  WHITE  SLAVE 
TRAFFIC 


THE  SUPPRESSION  AND  PREVEN- 
TION OF  THE  WHITE  SLAVE 
TIL\FFIC. 

Were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  some  practical 
ways  of  securing  the  suppression  of  this  de- 
grading trade  can  be  suggested,  we  would 
hardly  be  justified  in  calling  to  it  the  attention 
of  the  public. 

There  are  several  methods  of  abolishing 
commercialized  vice.  In  the  first  place,  a 
sense  of  individual  and  national  responsibility 
must  be  aroused. 

In  order  that  an  effective  bar  may  be  placed 
across  the  way  of  the  white  slave  trader,  the 
people  of  this  Nation  must  be  awakened  first 
to  the  danger  that  rests  over  every  young 
woman  in  the  land,  then  to  a knowledge  of  the 
nature,  methods  and  extent  of  that  danger, 
and  finally  to  the  prompt  adoption  and  en- 
forcement of  effective  methods  of  abolishing 
the  revolting  trade. 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


By  every  possible  method,  the  Nation  must 
be  aroused.  From  pulpit  and  from  platform, 
and  through  the  press  the  purposeful  message 
should  go  forth  until  there  is  not  a person  any- 
where in  the  country  who  does  not  know  the 
danger,  and  stand  ready  to  do  his  part  to  avert 
it.  Publicity  is  a most  powerful  weapon ; the 
traffic  thrives  where  discussion  of  it  is  silenced 
or  where  it  is  merely  a subject  of  oratorj'  or 
idle  comment. 

Fortunately,  the  education  of  the  people  is 
going  on,  and  at  least  one  organization  has 
been  formed  with  the  single  purpose  of  sup- 
pressing the  white  slave  traffic. 

The  influence  of  many  of  the  great  National 
reform  associations  of  this  country  has  been 
deeply  felt.  Among  these  some  that  have  been 
active  are  The  Women’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  through  its  Department  of  Legislation 
and  of  Rescue  Work;  the  National  Council  of 
Jewish  Women;  the  Jewish  Society  of  B’nai 
B’rith ; the  American  Purity  Federation ; the 
National  Florence  Crittenton  Mission;  the 


Ii6 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

National  Federation  of  Women’s  Clubs ; the 
American  Societies  of  Social  Hygiene ; the  In- 
ternational Bureau  of  London  and  the  Young 
Women’s  Christian  Association.  The  General 
Conference  of  the  Baptists,  the  Methodists  and 
the  Society  of  Friends ; the  Grange;  and  many 
other  civic,  social  and  religious  bodies  have 
passed  ringing  resolutions  against  the  traffic, 
and  in  favor  of  the  passage  of  repressive  laws. 

These,  and  other  societies  throughout  the 
country,  are  performing  most  helpful  service. 
Effective  safeguarding  work  is  being  done  by 
the  Travellers’  Aid  Society,  through  its  intel- 
ligent representatives,  in  railroad  stations  and 
on  steamship  piers,  with  their  ready  help  to 
those  in  need.  These  should  be  found  in 
every  town  and  city.  It  is  gratifying  to  know 
that  this  work  is  being  extended  with  prospect 
of  complete  National  organization.  Corre- 
sponding to  this  organization  is  the  Society 
“ Les  Amies  de  la  Jeune  Fille,”  with  head- 
quarters in  Paris.  Very  effective  work  for  the 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


protection  of  immigrant  girls  is  being  done  by 
the  Council  of  Jewish  Women,  through  its  Na- 
tional Committee  of  Immigrant  Aid.  There 
are  fifty-six  branches  of  this  Council,  each  hav- 
ing its  committee  closely  cooperating  with  the 
national  organization. 

The  movement  for  the  suppression  of  the 
white  slave  traffic  could  not  have  progressed 
so  rapidly,  nor  could  such  splendid  results  have 
been  attained,  had  it  not  been  for  the  tre- 
mendous influence  of  the  daily  and  monthly 
press.  The  editors  of  many  of  these  have 
been  fearless  advocates  of  this  cause,  and  de- 
serve heartfelt  thanks.  Special  credit  should 
be  given  to  those  devoted  men  and  women 
who  have  given  much  time,  thought  and  money 
to  the  cause,  and  who  quietly  and  without 
recognition  have  performed  splendid  service. 

All  of  this  effort — of  which  the  above  is 
only  a brief  summary — should  be  persistently 
continued  and  widely  extended.  There  must 
be  no  receding  of  the  wave  of  interest  until 


ii8 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

popular  apprehension  can  be  satisfactorily 
allayed  through  the  suppression  of  the  traffic. 

Every  helpful  agency  must  work  energet- 
ically and  steadily  to  this  end,  resolved  never 
to  relax  effort  until  success  is  gained.  More- 
over, new  recruits  must  be  added  until  a great 
army  is  in  the  field,  enlisted  in  a new  emanci- 
pation movement. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  intelligence  and  persistence,  we 
would  call  attention  to  the  work  of  an  asso- 
ciation of  business  men  in  Chicago,  which  in 
the  fall  of  1909  appointed  Mr.  Clifford  Griffith 
Roe,  then  Assistant  District  Attorney,  to  work 
for  the  suppression  of  the  white  slave  traffic 
in  Chicago.  Mr.  Roe  states  that,  acting  in  co- 
operation with  Chief  of  Police  Stewart,  much 
improvement  has  resulted.  No  longer  are  red 
lights  or  electric  signs  allowed,  nor  do  great 
crowds  of  men  surge  through  the  district  at 
night  as  of  yore ; several  of  the  houses  have 
been  rendered  vacant,  others  have  few  occu- 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


pants  where  formerly  there  were  many ; no 
procurers  or  other  men  are  allowed  as  hangers- 
on  ; no  liquor  is  permitted  to  be  sold  in  the 
houses,  and  all  doors  between  them  and  liquor 
saloons  are  kept  closed. 

This  accomplishment  is  largely  due  to  the 
movement  to  suppress  the  white  slave  traffic. 
Nothing  could  better  demonstrate  the  relation 
of  the  white  slave  trade  to  the  house  of  vice. 

But  should  this  movement  stop  with  some 
improvement  in  the  vice  conditions  of  the  large 
cities,  the  last  condition  of  the  people  of  the 
United  States  will  be  worse  than  the  first. 
The  reaction  of  intermittent  attacks  of  zeal 
for  righteousness  is  demoralizing.  Its  moral 
effect  upon  the  community  is  social  unrest,  ir- 
resolution and  a subtle  skepticism  that  finds 
expression  in  the  pessimistic  assertion  that  vice 
has  existed  during  the  ages  and  always  will, 
and  that  white  slavery,  being  part  of  it,  cannot 
be  suppressed.  Such  an  argument  is  as  cow- 
ardly as  it  is  false. 


120 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

Let  the  social  welfare  forces  center  their 
attack  upon  the  system  of  commercialized  vice 
and  carry  on,  at  the  same  time,  a vigorous 
educational  campaign.  Wherever  this  is  per- 
sistently done  far-reaching  results  must  follow. 


I2I 


XV 

The  Vigilance  Mov'ement 

During  the  early  part  of  the  year  1906  it 
became  evident  to  those  interested  that  the 
time  had  arrived  for  the  organization  of  a 
movement  to  oppose  the  increasing  traffic  in 
women. 

Every  Nation  of  Europe  had  its  National 
Vigilance  Committee,  organized  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  the  need  of  a corresponding  associa- 
tion in  the  United  States  was  imperative. 

In  September,  1906,  representatives  of  sev- 
eral interested  associations  met  in  New  York 
at  the  home  of  Miss  Grace  H.  Dodge  (a  home 
distinguished  by  being  the  cradle  of  many 
beneficent  movements)  and  organized  the  Na- 
tional Vigilance  Committee  for  the  United 
States. 

During  the  years  that  have  inteiA’ened  some 
changes  have  been  made  in  the  personnel  of 


122 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

the  Committee,  and  sixteen  members  have  been 
added.  The  Committee  as  now  constituted 
is  as  follows : 

Alice  Stone  Blackwell,  Boston. 

Seneca  P.  Broomell,  Baltimore. 

Melbourne  P.  Boynton,  Chicago. 

Robert  Catherwood,  Chicago. 

Grace  H.  Dodge,  New  York. 

John  Dryden,  Nebraska. 

Robert  Garrett,  Baltimore. 

Francis  J.  Garrison,  Boston. 

Cardinal  Gibbons,  Baltimore. 

Arria  S.  Huntington,  Syracuse. 

Dr.  O.  Edward  Janney,  Baltimore. 

Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan,  California. 

H.  C.  Levis,  London. 

Dr.  Prince  A.  Morrow,  New  York. 

Rabbi  David  Philipson,  Cincinnati. 

Anna  Rice  Powell,  Philadelphia. 

Prof.  Edw.  B.  Rawson,  New  York. 

James  Bronson  Reynolds,  New  York. 

Clifford  G.  Roe,  Chicago. 

Percy  Russell,  Brooklyn. 

Edwin  W.  Sims,  Chicago. 

Anna  Garlin  Spencer,  New  York. 

Elisabeth  Stover,  New  York. 

Dr.  Joseph  Swain,  Swarthmore,  Pa. 

Henry  W.  Wilbur,  Philadelphia. 

Talcott  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Robert  N.  Willson,  Philadelphia. 


123 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


Simon  Wolf,  Washington. 

Prof.  Thomas  Wood,  New  York. 

Officers : 

Chairman,  Dr.  O.  Edward  Janney. 

Secretary,  Elisabeth  Stover. 

Treasurer,  Seneca  P.  Broomell. 

Librarian,  Marion  E.  Dodd. 

Headquarters : 

156  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 

Almost  at  the  moment  of  its  inception,  in- 
timation was  received  from  William  Alex- 
ander Coote,  of  London,  who  had  been  largely 
instrumental  in  organizing  National  Commit- 
tees in  the  countries  of  Europe,  that  he  would 
be  willing  to  visit  this  country  to  assist  in  or- 
ganizing a National  Vigilance  Committee  for 
the  United  States.  In  the  course  of  the  fol- 
lowing winter  Mr.  Coote  arrived,  visiting  sev- 
eral cities  and  holding  meetings  in  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Boston.  His  so- 
journ among  us  was  encouraging  and  helpful. 

What  the  National  Vigilance  Committee  has 
accomplished  since  its  organization  may  be 
summarized  as  follows : 

A National  Committee  has  been  organized, 


124 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

with  corresponding  members  in  every  State  of 
the  Union. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  National 
Committee,  by  its  direct  appeal  to  President 
Roosevelt  and  the  Department  of  State,  se- 
cured the  adhesion  of  the  American  Govern- 
ment to  a treaty  with  the  leading  governments 
of  Europe  for  the  suppression  of  the  white 
slave  traffic. 

Efficient  co-operation  with  similar  organiza- 
tions in  Europe  has  been  established  and  main- 
tained. Through  these  relations,  useful  in- 
formation has  been  supplied  for  the  protection 
of  girls  coming  to  this  country. 

The  National  Committee,  through  its  head- 
quarters, 156  Fifth  Avenue,  and  its  affiliation 
with  the  International  Bureau  at  London,  Eng- 
land, is  in  constant  correspondence  with  similar 
organizations  in  all  the  leading  countries  of 
Europe,  and  with  local  organizations  in  this 
country. 

The  field  work  of  the  National  Vigilance 
Committee  includes : 


9 


125 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 

1st.  Efforts  to  secure  legislation  and  law 
enforcement  to  suppress  the  white  slave  traffic. 

2d.  Study  of  the  causes  and  of  methods  of 
dealing  with  the  traffic  in  this  and  other  coun- 
tries. 

3d.  Endeavors  to  bring  the  force  of  an  en- 
lightened public  opinion  to  bear  upon  the  prob- 
lems of  prevention  and  suppression  of  the  traf- 
fic in  women.  : 

During  the  year  1910,  nine  States  and  the  • 
District  of  Columbia  have  passed  laws  to  suj>- 
press  the  white  slave  traffic.  The  law  had  pre- 
viously been  secured  in  seven  States.  A Fed- 
eral law  prohibiting  interstate  traffic  in  womer 
has  been  secured,  also  a Federal  law  making 
more  stringent  provision  against  the  importa 
tion  of  women  from  other  countries  fo 
immoral  purposes.  Under  these,  more  thai ' 
one  hundred  convictions  have  already  beei ' 
obtained. 

Through  correspondence  and  co-operatioi  ‘ 
with  National  Vigilance  Committees  of  twent 
foreign  countries  affiliated  through  the  Inter 


126 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

national  Vigilance  Bureau,  and  in  co-opera- 
tion with  individuals  and  organizations  in  the 
different  States  in  this  country,  the  National 
Vigilance  Committee  for  the  United  States  has 
jbeen  able  to  perform  valuable  service  in  the 
safeguarding  of  girls  and  women  needing  pro- 
tection. 

The  Federal  Government  appointed  Henry 

B.  Ide,  Minister  to  Spain,  and  Dr.  O.  Edward 

' Janney  to  officially  represent  the  United  States 
> ' 

It  the  International  White  Slave  Congress 

t ' 

held  at  Madrid,  October  24-28,  1910.  This 

i ' . 

committee  defrayed  the  expenses  incurred  by 

; 

its  chairman.  Fifteen  countries  were  repre- 
jented  by  twenty-eight  official  delegates,  and 
^ ibout  one  hundred  and  fifty  other  delegates 
^^  trom  the  National  Vigilance  Committees  of 
^^;wenty  countries  were  present  at  the  business 
lessions.  The  Congress  was  in  session  five 
^^^■lays.  The  subjects  that  were  of  deepest  in- 
^jjerest  to  the  United  States  were: 
yi  1st.  More  effective  international  measures 


127 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 

to  prevent  the  taking  of  women  from  one  coun- 
try to  another  for  immoral  purposes. 

2d.  The  need  for  more  uniform  laws. 

3d.  Sources  of  the  white  slave  traffic. 

4th.  Means  of  safeguarding  girls  and 
women  who  must  find  employment  in  local- 
ities with  which  they  are  unfamiliar. 

5th.  That  the  laws  applicable  to  all  who 
traffic  in  minors  shall  be  made  to  apply  equally 
to  adults. 

Interesting  reports  were  presented  by  those 
appointed  to  make  careful  study  of  the  ques- 
tions assigned  to  them  at  a conference  at  Vi- 
enna, where  the  program  for  the  Madrid  Con- 
gress was  prepared.  Copies  of  these  have  been 
filed  at  the  Vigilance  Librar}\ 

This  special  library,  at  the  headquarters  of 
the  Committee,  has  been  increased  to  over 
three  hundred  volumes,  and  a large  collection 
of  reports  and  other  valuable  reference  matter 
has  been  placed  on  file  there.  It  is  being  made 
useful  to  social  workers,  educators  and  others 


128 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

who  have  occasion  to  consult  the  matter  col- 
lected there. 

The  reference  file  of  laws  touching  the  social 
evil  in  all  the  States,  begun  in  1909,  has  been 
revised  and  completed.  This  file  has  been 
made  useful  to  other  organizations  studying 
the  problem  of  vice,  or  interested  in  legislation 
and  enforcement  of  laws  to  suppress  the  white 
slave  traffic.  A compilation  of  these  laws  has 
been  made.  A chart  has  been  compiled  show- 
ing the  police  system  of  dealing  with  the  social 
evil  in  sixty  cities  in  the  United  States. 

The  fact  that  only  a single  sentence  from  the 
report  of  the  Special  Grand  Jury  of  the  City 
of  New  York  was  quoted  by  the  newspapers 
created  a widespread  impression  that  it  was 
declared  in  the  findings  of  that  jury  that  there 
was  no  white  slave  traffic  in  New  York.  To 
correct  these  misleading  press  reports,  the  Na- 
tional Vigilance  Committee  sent  out  hundreds 
of  copies  of  the  report  in  full,  with  an  en- 
closure briefly  calling  attention  to  the  real  sig- 
nificance of  the  report.  Later  several  press 


129 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 

comments  testified  to  the  value  of  this  enlight- 
enment of  public  opinion. 

Vigilance,  the  organ  of  the  National  Vigi- 
lance Committee,  is  published  monthly  through- 
out the  year  and  acquaints  its  readers  with  the 
progress  of  legislation  and  other  work  for  the 
suppression  of  the  white  slave  traffic. 

This  Committee  has  furnished  speakers  for 
public  meetings  and  conventions,  and  has  re- 
sponded to  innumerable  requests  for  sugges- 
tion, information  and  literature ; these  requests 
come  to  its  headquarters  from  all  parts  of  the 
United  States. 

The  need  for  uniform  State  laws  to  suppress 
the  traffic  is  obvious.  Work  must  be  done  to 
secure  the  passage  of  adequate  laws  in  all  of 
the  State  Legislatures.  Copies  of  the  model 
law,  prepared  by  the  National  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee, have  been  printed  and  widely  distrib- 
uted. Attention  is  given  also  to  tests  of  the 
new  laws  in  the  courts  of  different  localities. 

The  organization  of  State  Vigilance  Com- 
mittees, where  there  is  need  for  them,  has  been 


130 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

stimulated.  Such  organizations  enjoy  the  full- 
est local  autonomy,  the  National  Committee 
serving  only  as  a clearing  house,  a bureau  of 
information  and  an  agency  to  promote  the 
greater  efficiency  of  home  and  foreign  organi- 
zations. 

Investigation  has  been  made  into  the  white 
slave  traffic  in  various  sections  of  this  country. 
The  results  of  such  research  are  on  record  at 
headquarters.  They  show  the  extent  of  the 
traffic,  its  power  and  the  cruelty  of  its  op- 
eration. 

Assistance  has  been  afforded  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  criminals  (procurers,  harborers,  white 
slave  traders),  many  of  whom  have  been  pun- 
ished. 

Those  who  understand  the  difficulties  of  se- 
curing evidence  in  prosecutions  for  white  slave 
traffic  will  appreciate  the  significance  of  the 
convictions  that  have  been  made  under  the  new 
laws. 

Mr.  Clifford  G.  Roe  reports  92  convictions 
in  Chicago  during  1910;  and  Mr.  Samuel  E. 

131 


t 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


Pentz  reports  13  cases  brought  under  the 
Maryland  white  slave  law  in  1910,  and  4 in 
the  Federal  Court  in  Baltimore,  resulting  in 
12  convictions. 

A series  of  successful  prosecutions  has 
broken  up  a gang  of  traders  operating  between 
St.  Louis  and  Chicago.  Significant  cases  dis- 
closing less  evidence  of  a system  of  traffic 
proved  that  individuals  were  regularly  en- 
gaged in  the  business  of  procuring  girls  for 
disreputable  resorts  in  Pittsburg,  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Cincinnati,  New  Ha- 
ven, Denver,  New  Orleans,  San  Francisco, 
Seattle  and  other  of  the  large  cities  in  this 
country,  and  that  the  convicted  panders  had 
brought  girls  from  Tennessee,  Wisconsin,  In- 
diana, Michigan,  Canada,  New  Jersey,  New 
York,  Minnesota,  Connecticut  and  Missouri 
on  promise  of  respectable  employment. 

Among  the  convictions,  there  are  several 
which  have  furnished  evidence  that  the  prac- 
tice of  marrying  girls  and  placing  them  in  dis- 
reputable houses  is  a common  method  of  en- 


132 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

slaving  girls  for  profit  to  the  white  slaver 
(pander). 

Members  of  the  Committee  have  traveled 
in  the  South,  West,  East,  Canada  and  Europe 
in  the  interests  of  the  work. 

The  National  Vigilance  Committee  has  had 
an  influential  part  in  producing  the  remarkable 
wave  of  opposition  to  the  white  slave  traffic 
which  is  sweeping  over  the  country. 

The  activity  of  the  Federal  Government, 
through  the  Immigration  Department,  in  the 
number  of  prosecutions  that  have  been  carried 
on  in  different  parts  of  the  country  shows  that 
the  menace  of  the  traffic  in  women  is  being 
recognized ; but  there  is  needed  a determined, 
persistent,  far-seeing  work  along  the  three 
lines  that  the  National  Vigilance  Committee  is 
following — a study  of  causes,  methods  of  pre- 
vention, legislation  and  law  enforcement. 


133 


XVI 

Activity  of  the  Government — The  States 

About  six  years  ago,  under  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Roosevelt,  and  in  the  depart- 
ment of  Hon.  Oscar  L.  Straus,  Secretary  of 
Commerce  and  Labor,  the  Government  became 
active  in  the  investigation  of  the  traffic  in 
women  among  immigrants,  and  soon  there  was 
at  hand  evidence  quite  sufficient  to  justify  the 
stringent  instructions  sent  out  by  Secretary 
Straus  to  Commissioners  of  Immigration  at 
every  port  of  entry,  describing  the  measures 
to  be  taken  to  suppress  the  traffic  among 
immigrants. 

Under  these  instructions,  the  officials  be- 
came active  all  over  the  country  in  arresting 
procurers,  whose  victims  were  foreigners,  and 
many  were  sent  to  prison.  Suddenly,  however, 
a case  * which  had  been  sent  on  appeal  to  the 

•■^See  Supreme,  Court  Records,  213  U.  S.  138. 


134 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  brought 
forth  a decision  which  held  that,  except  in  the 
case  of  women  brought  over  for  the  purpose, 
all  such  cases  must  be  tried  in  the  courts  of 
the  States.  This  was  a check  to  the  National 
movement,  but  it  has  proven  to  be  a blessing 
since  it  has  stimulated  the  States  to  pass  ade- 
quate laws.  However,  the  activity  of  the 
United  States  Government  has  not'  flagged, 
and  it  has  energetically  followed  every  line 
of  progress  open  to  it. 

Under  President  Taft,  interest  in  the  move- 
ment has  been  encouraged  and  the  President 
referred  to  the  traffic  in  his  message  to  Con- 
gress in  December,  1909,  in  the  following 
earnest  words,  advocating  strenuous  measures 
by  Congress  and  State  Legislatures : 

I greatly  regret  to  have  to  say  that  the  investiga- 
tions made  in  the  Bureau  of  Immigration  and  other 
sources  of  information  lead  to  the  view  that  there  is 
urgent  necessity  for  additional  legislation  and  greater 
executive  activity  to  suppress  the  recruiting  of  the 
ranks  of  prostitutes  from  the  streams  of  immigration 
into  this  country,  an  evil,  which  for  want  of  a better 
name,  has  been  called  “The  White  Slave  Trade.” 


135 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


I believe  it  to  be  constitutional  to  forbid,  under 
penalty,  the  transportation  of  persons  for  purposes 
of  prostitution  across  National  and  State  lines,  and 
by  appropriating  a fund  of  $50,000  to  be  used  by 
the  Secretary  of  Commerce  and  Labor  for  the  em- 
ployment of  special  inspectors,  it  will  be  possible 
to  bring  those  responsible  for  this  trade  to  indict- 
ment and  conviction  under  Federal  law. 

Every  citizen  must  feel  encouraged  by  the 
attitude  of  the  Government,  and  do  all  in  his 
power  to  encourage  it  to  further  endeavors. 

In  November,  1907,  an  Immigrant  Commis- 
sion, appointed  by  Congress,  began  a very 
thorough  investigation  of  the  traffic  among  im- 
migrants, sending  agents  abroad  as  well  as 
into  our  own  cities,  and  prosecuting  a number 
of  cases. 

To  the  session  of  Congress  of  1909-1910  this 
Commission  made  two  partial  reports — one 
dealing  with  the  white  slave  traffic,  and  one  on 
steerage  conditions.  A final  report  was  made 
in  December,  1910. 

The  former  presented  to  Congress  and  to  the 
country  a vivid  but  terrible  picture  of  the  white 


136 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

slave  traffic,  which  no  one  can  read  without 
becoming  convinced  of  the  brutality  and  men- 
ace of  the  traffic,  and  realizing  the  necessity 
for  immediate  action  to  suppress  it. 

Until  recently,  as  has  been  mentioned,  there 
was  no  Federal  law  under  which  interstate 
traffickers  could  be  prosecuted  in  the  United 
States  courts.  Only  the  intervention  of  laws 
providing  for  the  protection  of  girls  who  cross 
State  boundaries  can  effectually  deter  traf- 
fickers from  finding  their  victims  in  one  State 
and  placing  them  in  houses  of  ill  fame  in  an- 
other. Lack  of  uniformity  in  State  laws  and 
court  procedure  have  furnished  protection 
under  which  a system  of  interstate  traffic  car- 
ried on  by  individuals,  who  are  more  or  less  in- 
formally associated,  has  become  well  estab- 
lished in  the  United  States. 

Based  upon  the  report  of  the  special  com- 
mission to  investigate  the  white  slave  traffic 
several  bills  were  drawn  and  presented  to  Con- 
gress. Two  of  these  have  passed — one  mak- 
ing more  stringent  the  laws  governing  immi- 


137 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


gration,  and  one  bringing  to  bear  the  interstate 
commerce  power  of  the  Federal  Government 
to  suppress  the  traffic  between  States.  See 
Appendix,  pages  169,  171. 

These  acts,  especially  the  latter,  will  be  im- 
mensely helpful  in  breaking  up  the  traffic, 
and  the  Government,  if  it  be  supported  by 
public  sentiment,  will  undoubtedly  continue  its 
activity. 

Two  other  bills — one  for  the  District  of 
Columbia  and  the  other  applying  to  Territories 
and  the  Canal  Zone — were  before  Congress  in 
1910.  The  bill  for  the  District  of  Columbia 
passed  on  the  last  day  of  the  session  and  was 
signed  by  President  Taft. 


We  now  come  to  the  important  question  of 
what  further  legal  measures  should  be  adopted 
by  State  Legislatures  to  put  a stop  to  the  activ- 
ities of  the  procurer,  and  thus  strike  a deadly 
blow  at  the  traffic. 

The  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court,  throw- 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

ing  the  responsibility  of  arrest  and  punishment 
of  the  procurer  upon  the  States,  found  them 
utterly  unprepared  for  the  task.  No  States 
except  Connecticut,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
Illinois  and  California  had  any  semblance  of 
laws  for  the  suppression  of  the  traffic. 

Governing  such  cases,  all  of  these  except 
that  of  Illinois — a very  recent  law — were 
wholly  inadequate.  Efforts  were  at  once  made 
with  great  energy  to  induce  the  Legislatures 
of  the  States  which  were  in  session  in  the 
spring  of  1909  to  pass  adequate  laws  on  this 
subject,  and  based  on  the  law  of  Illinois,  the 
States  of  Minnesota,  North  and  South  Dakota, 
Iowa,  Colorado  and  Washington  passed  ex- 
cellent acts. 

Meanwhile  the  National  Vigilance  Commit- 
tee, with  the  advice  and  assistance  of  mem- 
bers of  the  legal  profession  who  had  had  ex- 
perience in  such  cases,  had  framed  a “ model 
law  ” which,  while  brief,  covered  all  of  the 
important  points.  This  was  presented  to  all 
of  the  States  whose  Legislatures  met  in  the 


139 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


winter  of  1909  and  1910,  and  was  adopted  as 
a law,  with  slight  modifications,  in  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Ohio  and 
Louisiana. 

Modifications  of  the  Illinois  law  were 
adopted  in  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island  and 
Oklahoma. 

Although  so  many  States  and  the  District  of 
Columbia  now  possess  adequate  laws  for  the 
suppression  of  the  white  slave  traffic,  there 
yet  remains  a great  work  for  the  people  of 
the  remaining  States  to  perform. 

For  model  law  see  Appendix,  page  178. 

It  will  be  observed  that  this  act  provides 
against  leading  any  woman  into  a life  of  prosti- 
tution, either  with  her  consent  or  against  her 
will,  through  fraud  or  force;  against  the  sell- 
ing of  women  into  such  a life ; against  the  de- 
ception of  a woman  by  means  of  marriage ; 
against  the  slave  master  (pander)  who  lives 
on  the  earnings  of  his  victim ; and  against 
holding  women  in  durance  for  debt. 

There  should  be  a systematic  campaign  con- 


140 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

ducted  to  induce  the  Legislatures  of  all  the 
States  which  have  not  yet  acted  upon  this  law 
to  pass  it  at  their  earliest  opportunity.  In  this 
campaign,  the  help  of  every  man  and  woman 
in  those  States  is  needed. 


XVII 

An  International  Treaty 

At  an  International  Congress  held  in  Paris 
in  1902  a treaty  was  framed,  and  perfected  at 
a Congress  held  in  the  same  city  two  years 
later,  binding  the  signatory  powers  to  unite 
in  suppressing  the  white  slave  traffic  between 
nations. 

This  treaty  was  signed  at  Paris  May  18, 
1904,  by  the  representatives  of  France,  Ger- 
many, Belgium,  Denmark,  Spain,  Great  Brit- 
ain, Italy,  Holland,  Portugal,  Russia,  Sweden, 
Norway  and  Switzerland — thirteen  in  all. 
Since  then  Austria-Hungary  and  Brazil  have 
signified  their  adhesion  to  the  treaty,  and  the 
United  States  June  6,  1908,  it  being  proclaimed 
by  President  Roosevelt  June  15,  1908. 

BY  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES  OF  AMERICA 

A Proclamation 

Whereas  a project  of  arrangement  for  the  sup- 
pression of  the  white  slave  traffic  was,  on  July  25, 
1902,  adopted  for  submission  to  their  respective  Gov- 


142 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

ernments  by  the  delegates  of  various  Powers  repre- 
sented at  the  Paris  Conference  for  the  repression  of 
the  trade  in  white  women; 

And  whereas,  in  pursuance  of  Article  VII  of  the 
said  project  of  arrangement,  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  was,  on  August  i8,  1902,  invited  by  the 
Government  of  the  French  Republic  to  adhere 
thereto ; 

And  whereas  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  by 
its  Resolution  of  March  i,  1905  (two-thirds  of  the 
Senators  present  concurring  therein),  did  advise  and 
consent  to  the  adhesion  by  the  United  States  to  the 
said  project  of  arrangement; 

And  whereas  the  stipulations  of  the  said  project 
of  arrangement  were,  word  for  word,  and  without 
change,  confirmed  by  a formal  agreement,  signed  at 
Paris  on  May  18,  1904,  by  the  Governments  of  Ger- 
many, Belgium,  Denmark,  Spain,  France,  Great  Brit- 
ain, Italy,  the  Netherlands,  Portugal,  Russia,  Sweden, 
Norway,  and  the  Swiss  Federal  Council,  a true  copy 
of  which  agreement,  in  the  French  language,  is  hereto 
attached ; 

And  whereas  the  ratifications  by  the  said  Govern- 
ments of  the  said  agreement  have  been  duly  deposited 
with  the  Government  of  the  French  Republic;  and 
the  said  agreement  has  been  adhered  to  by  the  Gov- 
ernments of  Austria-Hungary  and  Brazil; 

And  whereas  the  President  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  in  pursuance  of  the  aforesaid  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate,  did,  on  the  6th  day  of  June, 
1908,  declare  that  the  United  States  adheres  to  the 


143 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


said  agreement  in  confirmation  of  the  said  project 
of  arrangement : 

Now,  therefore,  be  it  known.  That  I,  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  President  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, have  caused  the  said  agreement  to  be  made  pub- 
lic, to  the  end  that  the  same,  and  every  article  and 
clause  thereof,  may  be  observed  and  fulfilled  with 
good  faith  by  the  United  States  and  the  citizens 
thereof. 

In  witness  whereof,  I have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  aflixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  isth  day  of 
June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  eight,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  one  hundred  and 
thirty-second. 

[seal.]  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

By  the  President: 

Robert  Bacon, 

Acting  Secretary  of  State. 

When  all  the  provisions  of  this  treaty  come 
to  be  carried  out  by  the  Governments,  the  traffic 
between  nations  will  be  effectually  checked. 
See  Appendix,  page  165,  for  treaty. 


144 


XVIII 

Immigration — Improved  Methods 

While  various  plans  have  been  suggested 
for  controlling  the  tremendous  current  of  im- 
migration flowing  into  this  country  at  the  rate 
of  fully  a million  a year,  it  is  certain  that  the 
flow  will  continue  for  many  years  to  come. 
What  concerns  us  is  the  assimilation  of  that 
vast  multitude  in  this  country  without  damage 
to  American  institutions. 

It  should,  therefore,  be  a part  of  the  duty 
of  the  good  citizen  to  encourage  the  Govern- 
ment to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  two 
bills  enacted  into  law  by  Congress  in  1910, 
looking  to  a stricter  enforcement  of  the  Immi- 
gration Act  and  the  provisions  of  the  act  to 
prevent  transportation  across  this  country  for 
immoral  purposes. 

Congress  should  be  urged  to  enact  laws  re- 
quiring the  managers  of  transatlantic  and 


145 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


transpacific  companies  to  provide  proper  ac- 
commodations for  steerage  passengers.  In 
fact  the  “ steerage  ” should  be  abolished  and 
third-class  accommodations  required.  It  is  en- 
tirely within  the  power  of  Congress  to  so  pro- 
vide, and  the  simple  notice  served  upon  the 
steamship  companies  that  no  immigrant  would 
be  allowed  to  land  whose  accommodations  on 
board  had  not  come  up  to  the  requirements  of 
the  law  would  quickly  bring  them  to  terms. 


146 


XIX 

Politics  and  Vice 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  presence  of 
houses  of  vice  in  cities  incites  and  fosters  the 
white  slave  traffic.  This  is  true  of  Europe, 
where  the  iniquitous  system  of  State  regula- 
tion has  long  been  maintained,  although  those 
who  enforce  it  acknowledge  it  to  be  a failure 
from  a medical  and  moral  point  of  view.  Simi- 
lar testimony  to  the  failure  of  attempted  regu- 
lation in  America  is  substantiated  by  the  facts 
in  this  country. 

The  House  of  Prostitution  Must  be  Abol- 
ished. Its  presence  is  possible  only  because  of 
a terribly  mistaken  notion  that  there  is  a cer- 
tain value  or  necessity  for  its  existence.  There 
is  no  such  value  or  necessity.  Where  these 
places  exist,  they  create  a center  of  infamy. 
They  constitute  no  sort  of  protection  to  the 
community.  Felonious  assaults  are  common 


147 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


in  the  shadows  of  these  houses.  On  the  other 
hand,  in  cities  where  they  have  been  driven 
out,  good  order  prevails  and  assaults  seldom 
occur. 

This  is  what  happened  in  the  City  of  Des 
Moines,  a place  of  100,000  population,  when 
the  houses  of  vice  were  driven  out  in  Septem- 
ber, 1908,  as  testified  to  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Hamery, 
in  charge  of  the  police,  who  says : 

There  is  now  not  an  acknowledged  and  recognized 
brothel  in  the  City  of  Des  Moines.  Neither  is  there 
a public  gambling,  boot-leg  or  hop-joint  in  the  city. 
We  have  practically  no  professional  crime,  such  as 
highway  robbery,  burglary  or  robberies  with  vio- 
lence. The  arrests  for  last  month  were  less  than 
for  the  same  period  in  ten  years.  The  Des  kloines 
Daily  Capital  of  June  23,  igog,  published  a news 
article  on  the  remarkable  decrease  of  criminal  cases. 
City  Physician  Losh  states  that  the  night  work  of 
the  city  surgeons,  such  as  attending  suicides,  cutting 
scrapes,  murders,  etc.,  ceased  almost  simultaneously 
with  the  suppression  of  the  red-light  districts  and 
public  prostitution.* 

The  proposition  that  decent  women  would 
not  be  safe  in  the  absence  of  houses  of  prosti- 

* Vigilance,  March,  igio. 

148 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

tution  Mr.  Hamery  says  “ has  been  proven 
to  be  utterly  without  foundation  by  the  experi- 
ment in  Des  Moines.”  The  same  evidence 
comes  from  other  places  that  have  abolished 
the  system. 

Judge  A.  K.  Stewart,  of  the  Police  Court 
in  Des  Moines,  confirms  the  above  and  adds ; 

We  now  have  two  indictments  for  the  white  slave 
trade  in  our  courts  to  be  tried  very  soon,  where 
two  negro  show  boys  induced  two  white  girls  to  come 
to  the  city  ostensibly  for  theatrical  purposes,  but  for 
the  real  purpose  of  prostitution;  but  our  officers  ob- 
served them  and  the  girls,  being  only  about  sixteen 
years  of  age,  were  taken  into  custody  as  they  were 
being  taken  to  some  place  to  be  ruined.  These  girls 
came  from  a small  town  about  loo  miles  in  the 
country,  and  they  were  returned  to  their  parents. 

Had  there  been  a red-light  district  here,  as  of  old, 
it  would  have  been  almost  impossible  to  have  saved 
the  girls;  but  for  the  reason  that  they  had  to  make 
arrangement  for  the  girls  to  stay  here,  and  people 
being  afraid  to  give  them  lodging,  the  matter  was 
prevented.* 

Let  the  people  of  every  city  and  town  unite 
in  a determined  effort  to  drive  out  every  house 

* Ibid,  January,  igio. 


149 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


of  vice,  not  deterred  by  political  influence  or 
the  claims  of  business  interests  or  the  sophistry 
of  interested  people. 

It  is  far  better  to  keep  these  places  on  the 
move  than  to  allow  them  to  become  one  of  the 
settled  institutions  of  a city. 

The  public  should  know  the  fact  that  one 
of  the  chief  sources  of  the  white  slave  traffic 
is  the  tolerated  vice  in  our  cities  and  towns, 
and  that  wherever  attempts  at  segregation 
have  been  tried  they  have  only  made  the  evils 
of  commercialized  vice  worse. 

Looking  at  this  matter  in  a larger  way,  we 
cannot  doubt  that  allowing  this  form  of  vice 
to  exist  openly,  and  even  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  police,  must  favor  the  violation  of 
other  laws,  and  have  a tendency  to  lessen  re- 
spect for  all  law.  It  is  opposed  to  all  the 
principles  of  good  government,  the  purpose  of 
which  is,  according  to  Gladstone,  “ to  make  it 
easy  to  do  right  and  difficult  to  do  wrong.” 

There  are  laws  directed  toward  the  sup- 
pression of  disorderly  houses  in  all  but  a few 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

States.  Either  the  keepers  of  such  places,  or 
the  landlord,  or  the  house  itself,  comes  within 
the  law,  and  sometimes  all  three.  Besides  that, 
in  the  enumeration  of  general  powers  of  muni- 
cipalities in  the  State  statutes,  the  following 
point  is  invariably  made : 

All  municipal  corporations  shall  have  the  following 
general  powers  and  council  may  provide  by  ordinance 
a resolution  for  the  enforcement  of  the  same.  . . . 

4.  To  suppress  and  restrain  disorderly  houses  and 
houses  of  ill  fame,  and  to  provide  for  the  punishment 
of  all  lewd  and  lascivious  behavior  in  the  streets  and 
other  public  places.* 

The  laws  relating  to  this  subject  should  be 
revised  in  each  State,  new  ones  passed,  if  nec- 
essary, and  enforced.  To  the  fact  that  our 
present  statutes  are  not  enforced  is  due  a 
great  part  of  the  immorality  that  is  everywhere 
in  evidence. 

Should  city  authorities  decide  to  close  all 
houses  of  vice,  it  would  only  be  just  and  merci- 
ful for  them  to  provide  a place  of  detention. 


* See  Ohio  Statutes,  1536-190. 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


preferably  in  the  country,  where  these  unfortu- 
nate women,  more  sinned  against  than  sin- 
ning, should  have  an  opportunity  to  regain 
their  physical  and  moral  health,  and  to  acquire 
some  means  of  honest  support.  Relegated  to 
a supervised  and  well-managed  farm  colony, 
they  would  at  least  be  humanely  treated  and 
prevented  from  exploitation.  In  such  a colony, 
work  of  restoration  could  be  carried  to  ade- 
quate success. 

The  kind  of  politics  that  thrives  upon  vice 
must  also  go.  And  this  reform,  a good  many 
people  believe,  could  be  effected  b)'’  regarding 
city  government  a matter  of  business  rather 
than  of  politics. 

The  Commission  plan,  by  which  the  govern- 
ment of  a city  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  three 
to  five  men,  who  are  paid  adequate  salaries  and 
are  held  responsible,  seems  at  once  to  remove 
the  government  out  of  party  politics  and  put 
it  on  a business  basis.  If,  in  addition,  a law 
is  enacted,  as  in  Iowa,  which  provides  for  the 
prompt  dismissal  of  an  officer  who  fails  to  en- 


152 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

force  the  laws,  the  problem  is  well  nigh  solved. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  adoption  of  the  gov- 
ernment by  Commission  in  Des  Moines  the 
houses  of  vice  would  not  have  been  driven  out. 

The  State  of  Iowa  has  recently  enacted  two 
laws  which  are  published  as  an  example  to 
other  States.  See  Appendix,  pages  182,  188. 

The  present  understanding  between  the  po- 
lice and  the  vicious  resort  must  be  broken  up. 
It  is  the  duty  of  the  police  to  see  that  laws  are 
enforced.  It  is  not  their  province  to  say  that 
certain  laws  are  not  to  be  carried  out.  In 
doing  so,  they  assume  the  prerogatives  of  both 
the  Bench  and  the  Legislature,  instead  of  the 
executive,  which  is  the  proper  function  of  the 
police. 

Justice  Horace  G.  Lurton,  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  speaks  on  this 
point  as  follows  * : 

The  speaker  quoted  Ambassador  James  Bryce,  of 
England,  who  called  attention  to  dangers  threatening 


* Address  before  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  Bar 
Associations,  at  Hot  Springs,  Va.,  July  28,  1910. 


153 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


the  American  Commonwealth,  and  then  Justice  Lur- 
ton  pointed  out  other  factors  which  might  be  con- 
sidered as  undermining  our  fundamental  law,  Na- 
tional and  State.  Among  them  the  growing  inclina- 
tion to  disregard  the  Constitution,  both  by  courts  and 
legislative  bodies.  “May  one  charged  with  the  exe- 
cution of  a law  decline  to  execute  it  as  written,  and 
modify  it  if  he  deems  the  public  good  thereby  ad- 
vanced?” the  Justice  asked.  “The  contention  that 
the  obligation  of  a constitution  is  to  be  disregarded 
if  it  stands  in  the  way  of  that  which  is  deemed  of 
public  advantage,  or  that  a valid  law  under  the  Con- 
stitution is  to  be  interpreted  or  modified  so  as  to 
accomplish  that  which  the  executive  administering 
it,  or  a court  called  upon  to  enforce  it,  shall  deem 
to  the  public  advantage,  is  destructive  of  the  whole 
theory  upon  which  our  American  Commonwealth 
has  been  founded,  to  say  nothing  of  the  constitutional 
relation  of  the  Union  and  the  States  to  each  other. 
It  is  a substitution  of  a government  of  man  for  a 
government  of  law.” 

Let  the  authorities  enforce  all  laws  impar- 
tially, and  if  there  are  some  bad  laws  on  the 
books  the  Legislature  may  be  trusted  to  repeal 
or  modify  them.  It  can  be  proven  that  the 
laws  which  the  people  want  earnestly  enough 
can  be  secured. 

In  this  country,  the  situation  is  being  thor- 


154 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

oughly  investigated.  There  is  always  the 
hope — a hope  that  is  proving  itself  to  be  well 
founded — that  when  our  people  become  in- 
formed concerning  the  present  astounding  sit- 
uation they  will  act,  act  promptly  and  intelli- 
gently and  efficiently.  These  evils  in  our  own 
country  and  in  foreign  lands  are  remediable 
only  by  international  activity.  To  make  that  al- 
liance effective,  it  must  be  many  times  stronger 
than  it  is  at  present.  We  must  be  able  to  feel, 
and  to  make  our  Government  officials  feel,  that 
we  represent  the  moral  sentiment  of  every 
State  in  the  Union,  and  that  when  we  speak 
regarding  such  a clearly  defined  evil,  we  speak 
for  the  people  of  this  Nation  who  will  not  tol- 
erate this  iniquity  much  longer.* 

* James  Bronson  Reynolds,  Chicago  Address. 


155 


XX 


A Living  Wage 

Modern  industrial  conditions  and  means  of 
transportation  play  their  part  in  removing  girls 
long  distances  from  home  life  and  parental 
guardianship.  Many  of  them  go  out  to  fend 
for  themselves  (and  often  to  help  to  support 
other  members  of  the  family)  at  the  age  when 
they  most  need  safeguarding  from  the  kind 
of  dangers  and  temptations  that  beset  young 
womanhood.  No  one  knows  better  than  the 
white  slave  trader  what  such  transplantation 
means. 

Our  friends,  the  Socialists,  are  entirely 
right  in  their  arraignment  of  the  present  social 
order  as  selfish,  cruel,  provocative  of  crime  and 
widespread  misery,  whether  we  agree  with 
them  or  not  as  to  proposed  remedies. 

Certainly  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  work  at 
anything  like  adequate  compensation  is,  at 


156 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

present,  universal.  There  are  many  causes  for 
the  economic  situation  that  now  exists,  and 
many  changes  must  be  effected  therein  before 
much  improvement  will  be  seen.  People  must 
have  better  abiding  places,  shorter  hours  of 
work,  a better  chance  for  education  and  social 
enjoyment.  We  would  do  well  to  bend  our 
energies  to  the  improvement  of  those  social 
and  economic  conditions  which  lie  at  the  basis 
of  the  white  slave  traffic.  Were  the  people  in 
a more  comfortable  financial  and  social  condi- 
tion, there  would  be  no  longer  an  economic 
reason  for  the  existence  of  the  traffic. 

One  improvement  seems  possible  now.  This 
means  that  managers  and  owners  of  factories 
and  department  stores,  and  all  who  employ 
women  workers,  should  give  them  higher 
wages,  which  may  usually  be  done  if  the  pro- 
prietors are  willing  to  cut  down  their  own  in- 
come for  this  purpose.  Those  who  do  so  much 
of  the  work  which  brings  in  the  profits  should 
surely  receive  a larger  proportion  than  they 
do  at  present. 


II 


157 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


Furthermore,  the  employment  of  welfare 
secretaries  and  the  adoption  of  other  measures 
which  will  improve  the  physical,  mental  and 
moral  condition  of  employees  will  do  much  to- 
wards checking  the  white  slave  traffic. 


158 


XXI 


Healthful  Recreations 

There  is  a movement  on  foot  in  some  of  our 
cities  to  provide  wholesome  entertainments  for 
the  people.  More  places  that  provide  amuse- 
ment and  social  pleasure  without  attendant 
risks  to  morals  are  needed  everywhere. 

Meanwhile  there  should  be  insistence  upon 
the  enforcement  of  a legal  decree  that  intoxi- 
cants shall  not  be  sold  in  dance  halls  and  other 
places  of  entertainment  provided  for  young 
people.  The  downfall  of  hundreds  of  girls  has 
been  accomplished  through  the  dance  halls 
where  liquors  are  served. 

Admitting  that  the  desire  for  recreation  is 
natural,  and  should  be  gratified,  certain  definite 
provisions  can  be  made  to  construct  safe  and 
wholesome  amusement  possibilities. 

On  the  part  of  the  municipality,  there  can 
be  public  regulation  of  amusement  places.  This 


159 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


should  not  be  restrictive  but  should  provide 
for  proper  physical  conditions,  such  as  con- 
struction, ventilation,  etc.  Public  provision 
might  be  made  in  connection  with  playgrounds 
and  social  centers,  introducing  unobjectionable 
moving  picture  shows  to  counteract  pernicious 
ones.  Where  dance  platforms  are  erected  in 
connection  with  public  parks,  and  general 
dancing  under  supervision  permitted,  as  is  done 
in  the  field  houses  in  the  Chicago  parks,  the 
moral  tone  can  be  kept  normal  and  the  social 
atmosphere  wholesome.  These  platforms  or 
halls  at  the  same  time  provide  gathering  places 
for  young  people’s  clubs  and  societies  of  all 
kinds.  There  should  be  insistence  upon  wise 
supervision  of  all  places  of  public  amusement, 
and  provision  for  them  wherever  they  are 
needed. 

By  way  of  experiment,  model  dance  halls  have 
been  started  in  New  York,  and  also  a number  of 
model  dancing  classes  on  a small  scale. 

Preceding  all  effort  at  constructive  work,  a knowl- 
edge of  actual  conditions  should  be  obtained  so  as 
to  be  able  to  meet  the  situation  intelligently. 

i6o 


Suppression  and  Prevention 

With  sufficient  provision  of  the  right  kind,  openly 
and  freely  given,  the  amusement  situation  ought  to 
improve  itself.  It  is  because  so  much  of  the  recre- 
ational opportunity  has  been  left  to  commercial 
enterprise  that  we  have  heretofore  failed.  (Mrs. 
Belle  L.  Israels,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Amusements  and  Vacation  Resources  of  Working 
Girls,  New  York  City.) 


Such  is  the  white  slave  traffic  in  America. 
The  movement  for  its  suppression  is  the 
growth  of  a few  years,  yet  the  hearts  of  the 
American  people  have  been  so  touched  by  the 
recital  of  the  horrors  of  the  traffic  that  the 
determination  to  suppress  it  has  been  formed, 
and  requires  only  persistent,  intelligent,  self- 
sacrificing  effort  to  become  successful. 

To  this  great  endeavor  the  National  Vigi- 
lance Committee  invites  the  co-operation  of 
all  who  would  eliminate  the  white  slave  traffic 
from  our  civilization. 


i6i 


Appendix 

CONTAINING  TREATY,  LAWS, 
ETC. 


I 

The  International  White  Slave  Treaty 

Agreement  Between  the  United  States  and  Other 
Powers  for  the  Repression  of  the  Trade 
IN  White  Women 

Signed  at  Paris,  May  i8,  1904. — Ratification  Ad- 
vised by  the  Senate,  March  i,  1905. — Adhered  to 
by  the  President,  June  6,  1908. — Proclaimed,  June 

15.  1908. 

Article  i.  Each  of  the  Contracting  Govern- 
ments agrees  to  establish  or  designate  an  authority 
who  will  be  directed  to  centralize  all  information 
concerning  the  procuration  of  women  or  girls  both 
in  a view  to  their  debauchery  in  a foreign  country; 
that  authority  shall  have  the  right  to  correspond 
directly  with  the  similar  service  established  in  each 
of  the  other  Contracting  States. 

Art.  2.  Each  of  the  Governments  agree  to  exer- 
cise a supervision  for  the  purpose  to  find  out,  par- 
ticularly in  the  stations,  harbors  of  embarkation  and 
on  the  journey,  the  conductors  of  women  or  girls 
intended  for  debauchery.  Instructions  shall  be  sent 
for  that  purpose  to  the  officials  or  to  any  other  quali- 
fied persons,  in  order  to  procure,  within  the  limits 
of  the  laws,  all  information  of  a nature  to  discover 
a criminal  traffic. 

The  arrival  of  persons  appearing  evidently  to  be 
the  authors,  the  accomplices  or  the  victims  of  such 

165 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


a traffic  will  be  notified,  in  each  case,  either  to  the 
authorities  of  the  place  of  destination  or  to  the  in- 
terested diplomatic  or  consular  agents,  or  to  any 
other  competent  authorities. 

Art.  3.  The  Governments  agree  to  receive,  in  each 
case,  within  the  limits  of  the  laws,  the  declarations 
of  women  and  girls  of  foreign  nationality  who  sur- 
render themselves  to  prostitution,  with  a view  to 
establish  their  identity  and  their  civil  status  and  to 
ascertain  who  has  induced  them  to  leave  their  coun- 
try. The  information  received  will  be  communicated 
to  the  authorities  of  the  country  of  origin  of  the  said 
women  or  girls,  with  a view  to  their  eventual  return. 

The  Governments  agree,  within  the  limits  of  the 
laws  and  as  far  as  possible,  to  confide  temporarily  and 
with  a view  to  their  eventual  return,  the  victims  of 
criminal  traffic,  when  they  are  without  any  resources, 
to  some  institutions  of  public  or  private  charity  or 
to  private  individuals  furnishing  the  necessary 
guaranties. 

The  Governments  agree  also,  within  the  limits  of 
the  laws  to  return  to  their  country  of  origin,  those 
of  those  women  or  girls  who  ask  their  return  or  who 
may  be  claimed  by  persons  having  authority  over 
them.  Return  will  be  made  only  after  reaching  an 
understanding  as  to  their  identity  and  nationality,  as 
well  to  the  place  and  date  of  their  arrival  at  the 
frontiers.  Each  of  the  Contracting  Parties  will  facili- 
tate the  transit  on  his  territory. 

The  correspondence  relative  to  the  return  will  be 
made,  as  far  as  possible,  through  the  direct  channel. 


166 


Appendix 

Art.  4.  In  case  the  woman  or  girl  to  be  sent  back 
can  not  pay  herself  the  expenses  of  her  transporta- 
tion and  she  has  neither  husband,  nor  relations,  nor 
guardian  to  pay  for  her  the  expenses  occasioned  by 
her  return,  they  shall  be  borne  by  the  country  on  the 
territory  of  which  she  resides  as  far  as  the  nearest 
frontier  or  port  of  embarkation  in  the  direction  of 
the  country  of  origin,  and  by  the  country  of  origin 
for  the  remainder. 

Art.  S-  The  provisions  of  the  above  articles  3 and 
4,  shall  not  infringe  upon  the  provisions  of  special 
conventions  which  may  exist  between  the  contracting 
Governments. 

Art.  6.  The  contracting  Governments  agree,  within 
the  limits  of  the  laws,  to  exercise,  as  far  as  possible, 
a supervision  over  the  bureaux  or  agencies  which 
occupy  themselves  with  finding  places  for  women  or 
girls  in  foreign  countries. 

Art.  7.  The  non-signatory  States  are  admitted  to 
adhere  to  the  present  Arrangement.  For  this  pur- 
pose, they  shall  notify  their  intention,  through  the 
diplomatic  channel,  to  the  French  Government, 
which  shall  inform  all  the  contracting  States. 

Art.  8.  The  present  arrangement  shall  take  effect 
six  months  after  the  date  of  the  exchange  of  rati- 
fications. In  case  one  of  the  contracting  Parties  shall 
denounce  it,  that  denunciation  shall  take  effect  only 
as  regards  that  Party  and  then  twelve  months  only 
from  the  date  of  the  day  of  the  said  denunciation. 

Art.  9.  The  present  arrangement  shall  be  ratified 
and  the  ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  at  Paris,  as 
soon  as  possible. 


167 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


In  faith  whereof  the  respective  Plenipotentiaries 
have  signed  the  present  Agreement,  and  thereunto 
affixed  their  seals. 

DONE  at  Paris,  the  i8th  May,  1904,  in  single 
copy,  which  shall  be  deposited  in  the  archives  of  the 
Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  of  the  French  Republic, 
and  of  which  one  copy,  certified  correct,  shall  be 
sent  to  each  Contracting  Party. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  DelcassF 
[l.  s.]  (Signed)  Randolin. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  A.  Leghait. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  F.  Reventlow. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  F.  de  Leon  y Castillo. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  Edmund  Monson. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  G.  Tornielli. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  A.  de  Stuees. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  T.  de  Souza  Roza. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  Nelidow. 

For  Sweden  and  Norway: 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  Akerman. 

[l.  s.]  (Signed)  Lardy. 


168 


II 


An  Act  to  Regulate  the  Immigration  of 
Aliens  into  the  United  States 
The  Howell-Bennet  Act 
Sec.  2.  That  section  three  of  an  Act  entitled  “ An 
Act  to  regulate  the  immigration  of  aliens  into  the 
United  States,”  approved  February  twentieth,  nine- 
teen hundred  and  seven,  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to 
read  as  follows : 

Sec.  3.  That  the  importation  into  the  United  States 
of  any  alien  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  for 
any  immoral  purpose  is  hereby  forbidden;  and  who- 
ever shall,  directly  or  indirectly,  import,  or  attempt 
to  import,  into  the  United  States,  any  alien  for  the 
purpose  of  prostitution  or  for  any  immoral  purpose, 
or  whoever  shall  hold  or  attempt  to  hold  any  alien 
for  any  such  purpose  in  pursuance  of  such  illegal 
importation,  or  whoever  shall  keep,  maintain,  control, 
support,  employ  or  harbor  in  any  house  or  other 
place,  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  for  any  other 
immoral  purpose,  in  pursuance  of  such  illegal  im- 
portation, any  alien,  shall,  in  every  such  case  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a felony,  and  on  conviction  thereof 
be  imprisoned  not  more  than  ten  years  and  pay  a 
fine  of  not  more  than  five  thousand  dollars.  Juris- 
diction for  the  trial  and  punishment  of  the  felonies 
hereinbefore  set  forth  shall  be  in  any  district  to  or 

169 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


into  which  said  alien  is  brought  in  pursuance  of  said 
importation  by  the  person  or  persons  accused,  or  in 
any  district  in  which  a violation  of  any  of  the  fore- 
going provisions  of  this  section  occur.  Any  alien 
who  shall  be  found  an  inmate  of  or  connected  with 
the  management  of  a house  of  prostitution  or  prac- 
ticing prostitution  after  such  alien  shall  have  entered 
the  United  States,  or  who  shall  receive,  share  in,  or 
derive  benefit  from  any  part  of  the  earnings  of  any 
prostitute,  or  who  is  employed  by,  in,  or  in  connection 
with  any  house  of  prostitution  or  music  or  dance 
hall  or  other  place  of  amusement  or  resort  habitually 
frequented  by  prostitutes,  or  where  prostitutes  gather, 
or  who  in  any  way  assists,  protects,  or  promises  to 
protect  from  arrest  any  prostitute,  shall  be  deemed 
to  be  unlawfully  within  the  United  States  and  shall 
be  deported  in  the  manner  provided  by  sections 
twenty  and  twenty-one  of  this  Act.  That  any  alien 
who  shall,  after  he  has  been  debarred  or  deported 
in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  this  section,  at- 
tempt thereafter  to  return  to  or  to  enter  the  United 
States  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and 
shall  be  imprisoned  for  not  more  than  two  years. 
Any  alien  who  shall  be  convicted  under  any  of  the 
provisions  of  this  section  shall,  at  the  expiration  of 
his  sentence,  be  taken  into  custody  and  returned  to 
the  country  whence  he  came,  or  of  which  he  is  a 
subject  or  a citizen  in  the  manner  provided  in  sec- 
tions twenty  and  twenty-one  of  this  Act.  In  all 
prosecutions  under  this  section  the  testimony  of  a 
husband  or  wife  shall  be  admissible  and  competent 
evidence  against  a wife  or  husband.” 


170 


Ill 

The  Federal  White  Slave  Act 

An  Act  to  Further  Regulate  Interstate  and  For- 
eign Commerce  by  Prohibiting  the  Transpor- 
tation Therein  Eor  Immoral  Purposes  of 
Women  and  Girls,  and  for  Other  Purposes 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Con- 
gress assembled,  That  the  term  “ interstate  com- 
merce,” as  used  in  this  Act,  shall  include  transporta- 
tion from  any  State  or  Territory  or  the  District  of 
Columbia  to  any  other  State  or  Territory  or  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  and  the  term  “ foreign  commerce,” 
as  used  in  this  Act,  shall  include  transportation  from 
any  State  or  Territory  or  the  District  of  Columbia 
to  any  foreign  country  and  from  any  foreign  country 
to  any  State  or  Territory  or  the  District  of  Columbia. 

Sec.  2.  That  any  person  who  shall  knowingly 
transport  or  cause  to  be  transported,  or  aid  or  assist 
in  obtaining  transportation  for,  or  in  transporting, 
in  interstate  or  foreign  commerce,  or  in  any  Terri- 
tory or  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  any  woman  or 
girl  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  debauchery, 
or  for  any  other  immoral  purpose,  or  with  the  intent 
and  purpose  to  induce,  entice,  or  compel  such  woman 
or  girl  to  become  a prostitute  or  to  give  herself  up 
to  debauchery,  or  to  engage  in  any  other  immoral 
practice;  or  who  shall  knowingly  procure  or  obtain, 

171 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


or  cause  to  be  procured  or  obtained,  or  aid  or  assist 
in  procuring  or  obtaining,  any  ticket  or  tickets,  or 
any  form  of  transportation  or  evidence  of  the  right 
thereto,  to  be  used  by  any  woman  or  girl  in  inter- 
state or  foreign  commerce,  or  in  any  Territory  or 
the  District  of  Columbia,  in  going  to  any  place  for 
the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  debauchery,  or  for 
any  other  immoral  purpose,  or  with  the  intent  or 
purpose  on  the  part  of  such  person  to  induce,  entice, 
or  compel  her  to  give  herself  up  to  the  practice  of 
prostitution,  or  to  give  herself  up  to  debauchery,  or 
any  other  immoral  practice,  whereby  any  such  woman 
or  girl  shall  be  transported  in  interstate  or  foreign 
commerce,  or  in  any  Territory  or  the  District  of 
Columbia,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a felony,  and 
upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  punished  by  a fine 
not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars,  or  by  imprison- 
ment of  not  more  than  five  years,  or  by  both  such 
fine  and  imprisonment,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Sec.  3.  That  any  person  who  shall  knowingly  per- 
suade, induce,  entice,  or  coerce,  or  cause  to  be  per- 
suaded, induced,  enticed,  or  coerced,  or  aid  or  assist 
in  persuading,  inducing,  enticing,  or  coercing  any 
woman  or  girl  to  go  from  one  place  to  another  in 
interstate  or  foreign  commerce,  or  in  any  Territory 
or  the  District  of  Columbia,  for  the  purpose  of  pros- 
titution or  debaucher}%  or  for  any  other  immoral  pur- 
pose, or  with  the  intent  and  purpose  on  the  part  of 
such  person  that  such  woman  or  girl  shall  engage 
in  the  practice  of  prostitution  or  debauchery,  or  any 
other  immoral  practice,  whether  with  or  without  her 
consent,  and  who  shall  thereby  knowingly  cause  or 


172 


Appendix 

aid  or  assist  in  causing  such  woman  or  girl  to  go 
and  to  be  carried  or  transported  as  a passenger 
upon  the  line  or  route  of  any  common  carrier  or 
carriers  in  interstate  or  foreign  commerce,  or  any 
Territory  or  the  District  of  Columbia,  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a felony  and  on  conviction  thereof 
shall  be  punished  by  a fine  of  not  more  than  five 
thousand  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  for  a term 
not  exceeding  five  years,  or  by  both  such  fine  and 
imprisonment,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Sec.  4.  That  any  person  who  shall  knowingly  per- 
suade, induce,  entice,  or  coerce  any  woman  or  girl 
under  the  age  of  eighteen  years  from  any  State  or 
Territory  or  the  District  of  Columbia  to  any  other 
State  or  Territory  or  the  District  of  Columbia,  with 
the  purpose  and  intent  to  induce  or  coerce  her,  or 
that  she  shall  be  induced  or  coerced  to  engage  in 
prostitution  or  debauchery,  or  any  other  immoral 
practice,  and  shall  in  furtherance  of  such  purpose 
knowingly  induce  or  cause  her  to  go  and  to  be 
carried  or  transported  as  a passenger  in  interstate 
commerce  upon  the  line  or  route  of  any  common  car- 
rier or  carriers,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a felony, 
and  on  conviction  thereof  shall  be  punished  by  a fine 
of  not  more  than  ten  thousand  dollars,  or  by  im- 
prisonment for  a term  not  exceeding  ten  years,  or 
by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment,  in  the  discretion 
of  the  court. 

Sec.  5.  That  any  violation  of  any  of  the  above 
sections  two,  three,  and  four  shall  be  prosecuted  in 
any  court  having  jurisdiction  of  crimes  within  the 
district  in  which  said  violation  was  committed,  or 


12 


173 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


from,  through,  or  into  which  any  such  woman  or 
girl  may  have  been  carried  or  transported  as  a pas- 
senger in  interstate  or  foreign  commerce,  or  in  any 
Territory  or  the  District  of  Columbia,  contrary  to 
the  provisions  of  any  of  said  sections. 

Sec.  6.  That  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  and  pre- 
venting the  transportation  in  foreign  commerce  of 
alien  women  and  girls  for  purposes  of  prostitution 
and  debauchery,  and  in  pursuance  of  and  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  out  the  terms  of  the  agreement 
or  project  of  arrangement  for  the  suppression  of  the 
white  slave  traffic,  adopted  July  twenty-fifth,  nine- 
teen hundred  and  two,  for  submission  to  their  re- 
spective governments  by  the  delegates  of  various 
powers  represented  at  the  Paris  conference  and  con- 
firmed by  a formal  agreement  signed  at  Paris  on 
May  eighteenth,  nineteen  hundred  and  four,  and  ad- 
hered to  by  the  United  States  on  June  sixth,  nine- 
teen hundred  and  eight,  as  shown  by  the  proclama- 
tion of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  dated 
June  fifteenth,  nineteen  hundred  and  eight,  the  Com- 
missioner-General of  Immigration  is  hereby  desig- 
nated as  the  authority  of  the  United  States  to  re- 
ceive and  centralize  information  concerning  the  pro- 
curation of  alien  women  and  girls  with  a view  to 
their  debauchery,  and  to  exercise  supervision  over 
such  alien  women  and  girls,  receive  their  declara- 
tions, establish  their  identity,  and  ascertain  from 
them  who  induced  them  to  leave  their  native  coun- 
tries, respectively;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said 
Commissioner-General  of  Immigration  to  receive  and 
keep  on  file  in  his  office  the  statements  and  declara- 


174 


Appendix 

tions  which  may  be  made  by  such  alien  women  and 
girls,  and  those  which  are  hereinafter  required  per- 
taining to  such  alien  women  and  girls  engaged  in 
prostitution  or  debauchery  in  this  country,  and  to 
furnish  receipts  for  such  statements  and  declarations 
provided  for  in  this  act  to  the  persons,  respectively, 
making  and  filing  them. 

Every  person  who  shall  keep,  maintain,  control, 
support,  or  harbor  in  any  house  or  place  for  the 
purpose  of  prostitution,  or  for  any  other  immoral 
purpose,  any  alien  woman  or  girl  within  three  years 
after  she  shall  have  entered  the  United  States  from 
any  country,  party  to  the  said  arrangement  for  the 
suppression  of  the  white  slave  traffic,  shall  file  with 
the  Commissioner-General  of  Immigration  a state- 
ment in  writing  setting  forth  the  name  of  such  alien 
woman  or  girl,  the  place  at  which  she  is  kept,  and 
all  facts  as  to  the  date  of  her  entry  into  the  United 
States,  the  port  through  which  she  entered,  her  age, 
nationality,  and  parentage,  and  concerning  her  pro- 
curation to  come  to  this  country  within  the  knowl- 
edge of  such  person,  and  any  person  who  shall  fail 
'ithin  thirty  days  after  such  person  shall  commence 
keep,  maintain,  control,  support,  or  harbor  in  any 
house  or  place  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution,  or 
for  any  other  immoral  purpose,  any  alien  woman  or 
girl  within  three  years  after  she  shall  have  entered 
the  United  States  from  any  of  the  countries,  party 
to  the  said  arrangement  for  the  suppression  of  the 
white  slave  traffic,  to  file  such  statement  concerning 
such  alien  woman  or  girl  with  the  Commissioner- 
General  of  Immigration,  or  who  shall  knowingly  and 


175 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


willfully  state  falsely  or  fail  to  disclose  in  such 
statement  any  fact  within  his  knowledge  or  belief 
with  reference  to  the  age,  nationality,  or  parentage 
of  any  such  alien  woman  or  girl,  or  concerning  her 
procuration  to  come  to  this  country,  shall  be  deemed 
guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  on  conviction  shall  be 
punished  by  a fine  of  not  more  than  two  thousand 
dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  for  a term  not  exceeding 
two  years,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment, 
in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

In  any  prosecution  brought  under  this  section,  if 
it  appear  that  any  such  statement  required  is  not  on 
file  in  the  office  of  the  Commissioner-General  of  Im- 
migration, the  person  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  file 
such  statement  shall  be  presumed  to  have  failed  to 
file  said  statement,  as  herein  required,  unless  such 
person  or  persons  shall  prove  otherwise.  No  person 
shall  be  excused  from  furnishing  the  statement,  as 
required  by  this  section,  on  the  ground  or  for  the 
reason  that  the  statement  so  required  by  him,  or 
the  information  therein  contained,  might  tend  to 
criminate  him  or  subject  him  to  a penalty  or  for- 
feiture, but  no  person  shall  be  prosecuted  or  sub- 
jected to  any  penalty  or  forfeiture  under  any  law 
of  the  United  States  for  or  on  account  of  any  trans- 
action, matter,  or  thing,  concerning  which  he  may 
truthfully  report  in  such  statement,  as  required  by 
the  provisions  of  this  section. 

Sec.  7.  That  the  term  “ Territory,”  as  used  in  this 
Act,  shall  include  the  district  of  Alaska,  the  insular 
possessions  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Canal  Zone. 


176 


Appendix 

The  word  “person,”  as  used  in  this  Act,  shall  be 
construed  to  import  both  the  plural  and  the  singular, 
as  the  case  demands,  and  shall  include  corporations, 
companies,  societies,  and  associations.  When  con- 
struing and  enforcing  the  provisions  of  this  Act, 
the  act,  omission,  or  failure  of  any  officer,  agent, 
or  other  person,  acting  for  or  employed  by  any  other 
person  or  by  any  corporation,  company,  society,  or 
association  within  the  scope  of  his  employment  or 
office,  shall  in  every  case  be  also  deemed  to  be  the 
act,  omission,  or  failure  of  such  other  person,  or  of 
such  company,  corporation,  society,  or  association,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  person  himself. 

Sec.  8.  That  this  Act  shall  be  known  and  referred 
to  as  the  “ White  slave  traffic  Act.” 

Approved,  June  25,  1910. 


177 


IV 

The  Model  Law 

The  Law  Proposed  for  the  Suppression  of  the 
White  Slave  Traffic 

BASED  on  the  LAW  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  OTHER  STATES. 
THE  MOST  IMPORTANT  PROVISIONS  HAVE  BEEN  SUP- 
PORTED BY  DECISIONS  OF  THE  STATE  SUPREME  COURT 

An  Act  in  Relation  to  Pandering,  to  Define  and  Pro- 
hibit the  Same,  to  Provide  for  the  Punishment 
Thereof,  and  for  the  Competency  of  Certain 
Evidence  at  the  Trial  Thereof 

Section  A.  Any  person  who  shall  procure  a fe- 
male inmate  for  a house  of  prostitution ; or  who  shall 
induce,  persuade,  encourage,  enveigle  or  entice  a 
female  person  to  become  a prostitute;  or  who  by 
promises,  threats,  violence,  or  by  any  device  or 
scheme,  shall  cause,  induce,  persuade,  encourage, 
take,  place,  harbor,  enveigle  or  entice  a female  person 
to  become  an  inmate  of  a house  of  prostitution,  or 
assignation  place,  or  any  place  where  prostitution  is 
practiced,  encouraged,  or  allowed ; or  any  person  who 
shall,  by  promises,  threats,  violence,  or  by  any  device 
or  scheme,  cause,  induce,  persuade,  encourage,  en- 
veigle or  entice  an  inmate  of  a house  of  prostitution 
or  place  of  assignation  to  remain  therein  as  such  in- 
mate; or  any  person  who  by  promises,  threats,  vio- 

178 


Appendix 

lence,  by  any  device  or  scheme,  by  fraud  or  artifice, 
or  by  duress  of  person  or  goods,  or  by  abuse  of  any 
position  of  confidence  or  authority,  or  having  legal 
charge,  shall  take,  place,  harbor,  enveigle,  entice, 
persuade,  encourage  or  procure  any  female  person 
to  enter  any  place  within  this  State  in  which  prosti- 
tution is  practiced,  encouraged  or  allowed,  for  the 
purpose  of  prostitution  or  not  being  her  husband  for 
the  purpose  of  sexual  intercourse,  or  to  enveigle, 
entice,  persuade,  encourage  or  procure  any  female 
person  to  come  into  this  State  or  to  leave  this  State 
for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  not  being  her  hus- 
band for  the  purpose  of  sexual  intercourse ; or  who 
takes  or  detains  a female  with  the  intent  to  compel 
her  by  force,  threats,  menace  or  duress  to  marry 
him  or  to  marry  any  other  person  or  to  be  defiled; 
or  upon  the  pretense  of  marriage  takes  or  detains  a 
female  person  for  the  purpose  of  sexual  intercourse ; 
or  who  shall  receive  or  give  or  agree  to  receive  or 
give,  any  money  or  thing  of  value  for  procuring  or 
attempting  to  procure  any  female  person  to  become 
a prostitute  or  to  come  into  this  State  or  leave  this 
State  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  not  being 
her  husband  for  the  purpose  of  sexual  intercourse 
shall  be  guilty  of  pandering,  and  upon  conviction, 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  the  Peniten- 
tiary for  a term  of  not  less  than  two  years  to  life 
imprisonment. 

Sec.  B.  Any  person  who  by  force,  fraud,  intimi- 
dation or  threats,  places  or  leaves,  or  procures  any 
other  person  or  persons  to  place  or  leave  his  wife 
in  a house  of  prostitution  or  to  lead  a life  of  prosti- 


179 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


tution  shall  be  guilty  of  a felony  and  upon  conviction 
thereof  shall  be  sentenced  to  the  Penitentiary  for  not 
less  than  two  nor  more  than  twenty  years. 

Sec.  C.  Any  person  who  shall  knowingly  accept, 
receive,  levy  or  appropriate  any  money  or  other  val- 
uable thing,  without  consideration,  from  the  proceeds 
of  the  earnings  of  any  woman  engaged  in  prostitu- 
tion, shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a felony,  and  on  con- 
viction thereof  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment 
for  a period  not  less  than  two  nor  more  than  twenty 
years.  Any  such  acceptance,  receipt,  levy  or  appro- 
priation of  such  money  or  valuable  thing,  shall,  upon 
any  proceeding  or  trial  for  violation  of  this  Section, 
be  presumptive  evidence  of  lack  of  consideration. 

Sec.  D.  Any  person  or  persons  who  attempts  to 
detain  any  female  person  in  a disorderly  house  or 
house  of  prostitution  because  of  any  debt  or  debts 
she  has  contracted,  or  is  said  to  have  contracted, 
while  living  in  said  house,  shall  be  guilty  of  felony 
and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  sentenced  to  the 
Penitentiary  for  not  less  than  two  nor  more  than 
twenty  years. 

Sec.  E.  Any  person  who  shall  knowingly  transport 
or  cause  to  be  transported,  or  aid  or  assist  in  ob- 
taining transportation  for,  by  any  means  of  con- 
veyance into,  through  or  across  this  State,  any  fe- 
male person  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  or  with 
the  intent  and  purpose  to  induce,  entice  or  compel 
such  female  person  to  become  a prostitute,  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a felony  and  upon  conviction 
thereof  be  sentenced  to  the  Penitentiary  for  not  less 
than  two  nor  more  than  twenty  years;  any  person 


i8o 


Appendix 

who  may  commit  the  crime  in  this  section  mentioned 
may  be  prosecuted,  indicted,  tried  and  convicted  in 
any  county  or  city  in  or  through  which  he  shall  so 
transport  or  attempt  to  transport  any  female  person, 
as  aforesaid. 

Sec.  F.  It  shall  not  be  a defense  to  a prosecution 
for  any  of  the  acts  prohibited  in  the  foregoing 
sections  that  any  part  of  such  act  or  acts  shall  have 
been  committed  outside  this  State,  and  the  offense 
shall  in  such  case  be  deemed  and  alleged  to  have 
been  committed  and  the  offender  tried  and  punished 
in  any  county  in  which  the  prostitution  was  intended 
to  be  practiced  or  in  which  the  offense  was  consum- 
mated, or  any  overt  act  in  furtherance  of  the  offense 
shall  have  been  committed. 

Sec.  G.  Any  such  female  person  referred  to  in  the 
foregoing  sections  shall  be  a competent  witness  in 
any  prosecution  under  this  Act  to  testify  for  or 
against  the  accused  as  to  any  transaction  or  as  to 
any  conversation  with  the  accused  or  by  him  with 
another  person  or  persons  in  her  presence,  notwith- 
standing her  having  married  the  accused  before  or 
after  the  violation  of  any  of  the  provisions  of  this 
Act,  whether  called  as  a witness  during  the  existence 
of  the  marriage  or  after  its  dissolution. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  that  this  Act  shall  take 
effect  from  the  date  of  its  passage. 


i8i 


V 

The  Iowa  Act 

An  Act  to  enjoin  and  abate  house  of  lewdness,  as- 
signation and  prostitution,  to  declare  the  same  to 
be  nuisances,  to  enjoin  the  person  or  persons  who 
conduct  or  maintain  the  same,  and  the  owner  or 
agent  of  any  building  used  for  such  purpose,  and 
to  assess  a tax  against  the  person  maintaining 
said  nuisance  and  against  the  building  and  owner 
thereof. 

Be  It  Enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Iowa: 

Section  i.  Whoever  shall  erect,  establish,  continue, 
maintain,  use,  own,  or  lease  any  building,  erection 
or  place  used  for  the  purpose  of  lewdness,  assigna- 
tion or  prostitution  is  guilty  of  a nuisance,  and  the 
building,  erection  or  place,  or  the  ground  itself,  in 
or  upon  which  such  lewdness,  assignation  or  prosti- 
tution is  conducted,  permitted  or  carried  on,  con- 
tinued or  exists,  and  the  furniture,  fixtures,  musical 
instruments,  and  contents  are  also  declared  a nui- 
sance, and  shall  be  enjoined  and  abated  as  herein- 
after provided. 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  a nuisance  is  kept,  maintained 
or  exists,  as  defined  in  this  act,  the  county  attorney 
or  any  citizen  of  the  county  may  maintain  an  action 
in  equity  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Iowa  upon  the 

182 


Appendix 

relation  of  such  county  attorney  or  citizen,  to  per- 
petually enjoin  said  nuisance,  the  person  or  persons 
conducting  or  maintaining  the  same,  and  the  owner 
or  agent  of  the  building  or  ground  upon  which  said 
nuisance  exists.  In  such  action  the  court,  or  a judge 
in  vacation,  shall,  upon  the  presentation  of  a petition 
therefor  alleging  that  the  nuisance  complained  of 
exists,  allow  a temporary  writ  of  injunction  without 
bond,  if  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  court  or  judge  by  evidence  in  the  form 
of  affidavits,  depositions,  oral  testimony  or  other- 
wise, as  the  complainant  may  elect,  unless  the  court 
or  judge,  by  previous  order,  shall  have  directed  the 
form  and  manner  in  which  it  shall  be  presented. 
Three  days’  notice  in  writing  shall  be  given  the  de- 
fendant of  the  hearing  of  the  application,  and  if  then 
continued  at  his  instance,  the  writ  as  prayed  shall  be 
granted  as  a matter  of  course.  When  an  injunction 
has  been  granted,  it  shall  be  binding  on  the  defend- 
ant throughout  the  judicial  district  in  which  it  was 
issued,  and  any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  in- 
junction herein  provided  shall  be  a contempt  as  here- 
inafter provided. 

Sec.  3.  The  action  when  brought  shall  be  triable 
at  the  first  term  of  court  after  due  and  timely  service 
of  the  notice  has  been  given,  and  in  such  action  evi- 
dence of  the  general  reputation  of  the  place  shall  be 
admissible  for  the  purpose  of  proving  the  existence 
of  said  nuisance.  If  the  complaint  is  filed  by  a citi- 
zen, it  shall  not  be  dismissed  except  upon  a sworn 
statement  made  by  the  complainant  and  his  attorney 
setting  forth  the  reasons  why  the  action  should  be 

183 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


dismissed  and  the  dismissal  approved  by  the  county 
attorney  in  writing  or  in  open  court.  If  the  court  is 
of  the  opinion  that  the  action  ought  not  to  be  dis- 
missed, he  may  direct  the  county  attorney  to  prose- 
cute said  action  to  judgment,  and  if  the  action  is 
continued  more  than  one  term  of  court,  any  citizen 
of  the  county  or  the  county  attorney  may  be  substi- 
tuted for  the  complaining  party  and  prosecute  said 
action  to  judgment.  If  the  action  is  brought  by  a 
citizen  and  the  court  finds  there  was  no  reasonable 
ground  or  cause  for  said  action,  the  costs  may  be 
taxed  to  such  citizen. 

Sec.  4.  In  case  of  the  violation  of  any  injunction 
granted  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  court, 
or  in  vacation,  a judge  thereof,  may  summarily  try 
and  punish  the  offender.  The  proceedings  shall  be 
commenced  by  filing  with  the  clerk  of  the  court  an 
information  under  oath,  setting  out  the  alleged  facts 
constituting  such  violation,  upon  which  the  court  or 
judge  shall  cause  a warrant  to  issue,  under  which 
the  defendant  shall  be  arrested.  The  trial  may  be 
had  upon  affidavits,  or  either  party  may  demand  the 
production  and  oral  examination  of  the  witnesses. 
A party  found  guilty  of  contempt  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  section,  shall  be  punished  by  a fine 
of  not  less  than  two  hundred  nor  more  than  one 
thousand  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  in  the  county 
jail  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  six  months, 
or  by  both  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  5.  If  the  existence  of  the  nuisance  be  estab- 
lished in  an  action  as  provided  in  this  act,  an  order 
of  abatement  shall  be  entered  as  a part  of  the  judg- 

184 


Appendix 


ment  in  the  case,  which  order  shall  direct  the  re- 
moval from  the  building  or  place  of  all  fixtures, 
furniture,  musical  instruments  or  movable  property 
used  in  conducting  the  nuisance,  and  shall  direct  the 
sale  thereof  in  the  manner  provided  for  the  sale  of 
chattels  under  execution,  and  the  effectual  closing 
of  the  building  or  place  against  its  use  for  any  pur- 
pose, and  so  keeping  it  closed  for  a period  of  one 
year,  unless  sooner  released.  If  any  person  shall 
break  and  enter  or  use  a building,  erection  or  place 
so  directed  to  be  closed,  he  shall  be  punished  as  for 
contempt  as  provided  in  the  preceding  section.  For 
removing  and  selling  the  movable  property,  the 
officer  shall  be  entitled  to  charge  and  receive  the 
same  fees  as  he  would  for  levying  upon  and  selling 
like  property  on  execution,  and  for  closing  the  prem- 
ises and  keeping  them  closed,  a reasonable  sum  shall 
be  allowed  by  the  court. 

Sec.  6.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  personal 
property,  as  provided  in  the  preceding  section,  shall 
be  applied  in  payment  of  the  costs  of  the  action  and 
abatement,  and  the  balance,  if  any,  shall  be  paid  to 
the  defendant. 

Sec.  7.  If  the  owner  appears  and  pays  all  costs  of 
the  proceeding,  and  files  a bond  with  sureties  to  be 
approved  by  the  clerk  in  the  full  value  of  the  prop- 
erty, to  be  ascertained  by  the  court,  or,  in  vacation, 
by  the  clerk,  auditor  and  treasurer  of  the  county, 
conditioned  that  he  will  immediately  abate  said  nui- 
sance and  prevent  the  same  from  being  established 
or  kept  therein  within  a period  of  one  year  there- 
after, the  court,  or,  in  vacation,  the  judge,  may,  if 

185 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


satisfied  of  his  good  faith,  order  the  premises  closed 
under  the  order  of  abatement  to  be  delivered  to  said 
owner,  and  said  order  of  abatement  cancelled  so  far 
as  the  same  may  relate  to  said  property;  and  if  the 
proceeding  be  an  action  in  equity  and  said  bond  be 
given  and  costs  therein  paid  before  judgment  and 
order  of  abatement,  the  action  shall  be  thereby 
abated  as  to  said  building  only.  The  release  of  the 
property  under  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall 
not  release  it  from  any  judgment,  lien,  penalty  or 
liability  to  which  it  may  be  subject  by  law. 

Sec.  8.  Whenever  a permanent  injunction  issues 
against  any  person  for  maintaining  a nuisance  as 
herein  defined,  or  against  any  owner  or  agent  of 
the  building  kept  or  used  for  the  purposes  pro- 
hibited by  this  act,  there  shall  be  assessed  against 
said  building  and  the  ground  upon  which  the  same 
is  located  and  against  the  person  or  persons  main- 
taining said  nuisance,  and  the  owner  or  agent  of 
said  premises,  a tax  of  three  hundred  dollars.  The 
assessment  of  said  tax  shall  be  made  bj'^  the  assessor 
of  the  city,  town  or  township  in  which  the  nuisance 
exists  and  shall  be  made  within  three  months  from 
the  date  of  the  granting  of  the  permanent  injunction. 
In  case  the  assessor  fails  or  neglects  to  make  said 
assessment  the  same  shall  be  made  by  the  sheriff  of 
the  county,  and  a return  of  said  assessment  shall 
be  made  to  the  county  treasurer.  Said  tax  shall  be  a 
perpetual  lien  upon  all  property,  both  personal  and 
real,  used  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  said  nui- 
sance, and  the  payment  of  said  tax  shall  not  relieve 
the  person  or  building  from  any  other  penalties  pro- 


Appendix 

vided  by  law.  The  provisions  of  the  law  relating  to 
the  collection  and  distribution  of  the  mulct  liquor 
tax  shall  govern  in  the  collection  and  distribution  of 
the  tax  herein  prescribed  in  so  far  as  the  same  are 
applicable,  and  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act. 


187 


VI 

The  Iowa  Law  to  Remove  Officials  for 
Misconduct  or  Neglect  of  Duties 
IN  Office 

An  Act  authorizing  the  district  court  or  judge  to 
remove  officers  for  misfeasance,  misconduct  or 
maladministration  in  office,  and  providing  the 
method  of  procedure  therefor. 

Be  It  Enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Iowa: 

Section  i.  Any  county  attorney,  sheriff,  mayor, 
police  officer,  marshal  or  constable  shall  be  removed 
from  office  by  the  district  court  or  judge  upon 
charges  made  in  writing  and  hearing  thereunder  for 
the  following  causes: 

1.  For  wilful  or  habitual  neglect  or  refusal  to 
perform  the  duties  of  his  office. 

2.  For  wilful  misconduct  or  maladministration  in 
office. 

3.  For  corruption. 

4.  For  extortion. 

5.  Upon  conviction  of  a felony. 

6.  For  intoxication  or  upon  conviction  of  being 
intoxicated. 

Sec.  2.  The  complaint  or  petition  shall  be  entitled 
in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  may  be  filed 


188 


Appendix 

upon  the  relation  of  any  five  qualified  electors  of  the 
county  in  which  the  person  charged  is  an  officer,  the 
county  attorney  of  such  county,  or  the  attorney  gen- 
eral, and  shall  be  filed  by  the  attorney  general  when 
directed  so  to  do  by  the  governor.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  county  attorney  to  appear  and  prosecute 
this  proceeding  when  the  officer  sought  to  be  re- 
moved is  one  other  than  himself;  and  when  the 
proceeding  is  brought  to  remove  the  county  attorney, 
the  court  may  appoint  an  attorney  to  appear  in  behalf 
of  the  State  and  prosecute  such  proceedings. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor,  when- 
ever he  has  knowledge  that  reasonable  grounds  exist 
for  the  filing  of  complaint  against  any  of  the  within 
named  officers,  to  direct  the  attorney  general  to  file 
the  same  against  the  offending  party  and  prosecute 
said  action.  The  accused  shall  be  named  as  de- 
fendant and  the  petition,  unless  filed  by  the  attorney 
general,  shall  be  verified.  The  petition  shall  state 
the  charges  against  the  accused  and  may  be  amended 
as  in  ordinary  actions,  and  shall  be  filed  in  the  office 
of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  the  county  in 
which  the  person  charged  is  an  officer.  The  accused 
may  at  any  time  prior  to  the  time  fixed  for  hearing 
file  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court  his 
answer,  which  shall  be  verified. 

Sec.  4.  If  the  person  or  persons  filing  the  com- 
plaint or  the  defendant  believe  that  the  cause  ought 
not  to  be  heard  before  any  of  the  judges  in  such  dis- 
trict, he  shall  at  the  time  he  files  his  petition  or 
answer  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court, 
file  a copy  thereof  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the 

189 


13 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


supreme  court,  together  with  an  application  to  the 
supreme  court  asking  for  the  appointment  of  a judge 
outside  of  such  district  to  hear  the  complaint.  Upon 
the  filing  of  the  copy  of  said  complaint,  together  with 
the  application,  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  su- 
preme court,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  chief  justice 
of  the  supreme  court,  or  in  his  absence  or  inability 
to  act,  any  justice  thereof,  to  forthwith  issue  a writ- 
ten commission  directing  a district  judge  in  the 
State  of  Iowa  outside  of  such  district  to  proceed  to 
the  county  in  which  the  complaint  was  filed  and 
hear  the  same.  Upon  the  receipt  of  such  commis- 
sion, said  judge  shall  immediately  make  an  order 
fixing  a time  for  hearing  which  shall  be  not  less 
than  ten  (lo)  nor  more  than  twenty  (20)  days 
thereafter,  and  forward  said  order  to  the  clerk  of 
the  district  court  of  the  county  in  which  the  hearing 
is  to  be  had.  The  clerk  shall  file  said  order  and 
forthwith  cause  a copy  thereof  or  a notice  of  the 
time  and  place  of  hearing  to  be  served  on  the  ac- 
cused. If  the  cause  is  to  be  heard  by  a judge  within 
the  judicial  district,  upon  the  presentation  of  the 
petition,  or  a copy  thereof,  to  such  judge,  he  shall 
make  the  order  fixing  a time  for  the  hearing  as  here- 
inbefore specified. 

Sec.  5.  The  proceeding  shall  be  summary  in  its 
nature  and  triable  as  an  equitable  action  and  may 
be  heard  either  in  vacation  or  term  time,  and  shall 
be  heard  before  the  court  or  judge  without  the  inter- 
vention of  a jury.  Upon  the  filing  of  the  petition 
in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court,  and 
presentation  of  the  same  to  the  judge,  the  court  or 


Appendix 

judge  may  suspend  the  accused  from  office,  if  in 
his  judgment  sufficient  cause  appear  from  the  peti- 
tion and  affidavit  or  affidavits  which  may  be  pre- 
sented in  support  of  the  charges  contained  therein. 
In  case  of  suspension,  as  herein  provided,  the  tem- 
porary vacancy  shall  be  filled  in  the  manner  specified 
in  Section  1257  of  the  Code. 

Sec.  6.  If  upon  the  hearing  herein  provided  for, 
the  district  court  or  judge  shall  find  that  the  accused 
should  be  removed  from  office,  he  shall  make  and 
enter  of  record  an  order  of  removal  and  the  va- 
cancy thus  created  shall  be  filled  as  provided  in 
Section  1272  of  the  Supplement  to  the  Code,  1907. 

Sec.  7-  In  case  of  appeal  to  he  supreme  court,  the 
cause  shall  be  advanced  and  take  precedence  over 
all  other  causes  upon  the  court  calendar,  and  shall 
be  heard  at  the  next  term  after  the  appeal  is  taken, 
provided  the  abstract  and  arguments  are  filed  in  said 
court  in  time  for  said  action  to  be  heard.  The  su- 
preme court  shall  fix  the  time  of  hearing  and  the 
filing  of  arguments.  The  taking  of  an  appeal  by  the 
defendant  and  the  filing  of  a supersedeas  bond  shall 
not  operate  to  stay  the  proceedings  of  the  district 
court  or  judge,  or  restore  said  defendant  to  office 
pending  such  appeal.  If  the  final  termination  of  such 
proceedings  be  favorable  to  any  accused  officer,  said 
officer  shall  be  allowed  the  reasonable  and  necessary 
expense  including  a reasonable  attorney  fee  to  be 
fixed  by  the  court  or  judge  he  has  incurred  in  mak- 
ing his  defense,  by  the  county  if  he  be  a county 
officer,  or  by  the  city  or  town  in  which  he  holds 
office  if  he  be  a mayor,  police  officer  or  marshal. 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


If  the  action  is  instituted  upon  complaint  of  citizens 
as  herein  provided,  and  it  appears  to  the  court  that 
there  was  no  reasonable  cause  for  filing  the  com- 
plaint the  costs  may  be  taxed  against  the  com- 
plaining parties. 

Sec.  8.  Any  judge  who  is  required  to  preside  at  a 
hearing,  herein  provided  for,  outside  of  his  judicial 
district,  shall  be  allowed  his  necessary  and  actual 
expenses  incurred  by  reason  of  such  hearing,  and 
the  necessary  and  actual  expenses  of  his  official 
reporter.  An  itemized  sworn  statement  shall  be 
made  by  such  judge  and  official  reporter  showung 
the  amount  of  expenses  incurred,  and  the  same  shall 
be  filed  with  the  auditor  of  state.  Thereupon,  the 
auditor  shall  draw  his  warrant  upon  the  treasurer 
of  state  for  such  amount. 

Sec.  9.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  in  conflict  with 
this  act,  in  so  far  as  they  apply  to  the  officers  herein 
designated,  are  hereby  repealed. 

Sec.  10.  This  act  being  deemed  of  immediate  im- 
portance shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  its  publication  in  the  Register  and  Leader 
and  Des  Moines  Capital,  newspapers  published  in 
the  City  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Aproved  March  25,  A.  D.  1909. 

Published  March  27,  1909. 


192 


VII 

New  York  Employment  Agencies  Act 

The  part  that  employment  agencies  play  in  sending 
girls  to  immoral  resorts  and  situations  is  brought 
out  by  the  section  of  a New  York  law  passed  in 
1906  as  a result  of  an  investigation  made  shortly 
before  that  time. 

Chapter  327.  Section  7 

An  Act  to  amend  chapter  four  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  of  the  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and  four, 
entitled  “ An  Act  to  regulate  the  keeping  of  em- 
ployment agencies  in  cities  of  the  first  and  second 
class,  where  fees  are  charged  for  procuring  em- 
ployment or  situations,”  generally,  and  to  limit 
its  application  to  cities  of  the  first  class. 

7.  Character  of  employer;  fraud.  No  such  licensed 
person  shall  send  or  cause  to  be  sent  any  female  as 
a servant  or  inmate  or  performer  to  enter  any  place 
of  bad  repute,  house  of  ill-fame,  or  assignation  house, 
or  to  any  house  or  place  of  amusement  kept  for  im- 
moral purposes,  or  place  resorted  to  for  the  purposes 
of  prostitution,  or  gambling  house,  the  character  of 
which  such  licensed  person  could  have  ascertained 
upon  reasonable  inquiry.  No  such  licensed  person 
shall  knowingly  permit  any  person  of  bad  character, 
prostitutes,  gamblers,  intoxicated  persons  or  pro- 
curers to  frequent  such  agency.  No  such  licensed 


193 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


person  shall  accept  any  application  for  employ- 
ment ‘tnade  by  or  on  behalf  of  any  child  or  shall 
place  or  assist  in  placing  any  such  child  in  any 
employment  whatever  in  violation  of  the  compul- 
sory education  law,  known  as  title  sixteen,  of  the 
consolidated  school  law  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-four,  as  amended;  and  in  violation  of  chap- 
ter four  hundred  and  fifteen  of  the  laws  of  eight- 
een hundred  and  ninety-seven,  known  as  the  labor 
law.  No  licensed  person,  his  agents,  servants  or 
employees,  shall  induce  or  compel  any  person  to 
enter  such  agency  for  any  purpose,  by  the  use  of  force 
or  by  taking  forcible  possession  of  said  person’s 
property.  No  such  licensed  person,  his  agents  or 
employees,  shall  have  sexual  intercourse  with  any 
female  applicant  for  employment.  No  such  person 
shall  procure  or  offer  to  procure  help  or  employment 
in  rooms  or  on  premises  where  intoxicating  liquors 
are  sold  to  be  consumed  on  the  premises  whether 
or  not  dues  or  a fee  or  privilege  is  exacted,  charged, 
or  received  directly  or  indirectly.  For  the  violation 
of  any  of  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  section  the 
penalty  shall  be  a fine  of  not  less  than  fifty  dollars, 
and  not  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty'  dollars,  or 
imprisonment  for  a period  of  not  more  than  one  year 
or  both,  at  the  discretion  of  the  court.  . . . 


194 


VIII 

Methods  of  Conducting  Business  in  Dis- 
orderly Raines-Law  Hotels 


Practically  every  hotel  which  is  conducted  spe- 
cifically for  the  purposes  of  prostitution  in  con- 
nection with  the  sale  of  liquor  has  its  staff  of  women 
solicitors  on  the  streets  in  the  vicinity.  These 
women  are  required  to  bring  their  patrons  to  the 
hotel  and  to  urge  them  to  buy  drinks.  In  some  in- 
stances they  are  boarded  by  the  saloon  keepers,  much 
after  the  plan  of  the  regular  “ parlor  ” houses.  There 
frequently  exists  a connection  between  a disorderly 
saloon  in  which  women  solicit  and  the  disorderly 
hotel.  Men  met  in  a particular  saloon  must  be  taken 
to  a specified  hotel.  The  purpose  of  this  arrange- 
ment is  to  make  more  difficult  the  securing  of  evi- 
dence proving  the  disorderly  character  of  a place. 
There  are  few  cases,  however,  in  which  the  same 
man  is  proprietor  of  both  the  saloon  and  hotel. 
Many  of  these  hotel  proprietors  act  as  bail  bondsmen 
for  the  women  when  arrested.  When  they  are  placed 
on  probation  they  often  return  to  their  old  life  and 
the  keeper  of  the  hotel  pays  the  police  for  not  re- 
porting the  fact  that  they  have  broken  their  parole. 
During  an  investigation  of  33  women  placed  on  pro- 
bation a number  admitted  that  they  were  bailed  out 


195 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 

by  the  proprietors  of  the  Raines-law  hotels  for  which 
they  were  working.  In  such  cases  the  sum  of  $5.00 
for  the  bail  bond  was  deducted  from  their  earnings.* 


* Saloons  in  New  York,  by 
Collier’s  Weekly,  May  2,  1908. 


Arthur  H.  Gleason, 


196 


The  National  Vigilance  Committee  for 
THE  United  States  of  America 

The  National  Vigilance  Committee  for  the 
United  States  of  America,  for  the  Safe- 
Guarding  OF  Unprotected  Girls  and  Women 
AND  THE  Suppression  and  Prevention  of  the 
White  Slave  Traffic 

Alice  Stone  Blackwell,  Boston. 

Melbourne  P.  Boynton,  Chicago. 

Seneca  P.  Broomell,  Baltimore. 

Robert  Catherwood,  Chicago. 

Grace  H.  Dodge,  New  York. 

John  Dryden,  Nebraska. 

Robert  Garrett,  Baltimore. 

Francis  J.  Garrison,  Boston. 

Cardinal  Gibbons,  Baltimore. 

Arria  S.  Huntington,  Syracuse. 

Dr.  O.  Edward  Janney,  Baltimore. 

Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan,  California. 

H.  C.  Levis,  London. 

Dr.  Prince  A.  Morrow,  New  York. 

Rabbi  David  Philipson,  Cincinnati. 

Anna  Rice  Powell,  Philadelphia. 

Prof.  Edw.  B.  Rawson,  New  York. 

James  Bronson  Reynolds,  New  York. 

Clifford  G.  Roe,  Chicago. 

Percy  Russell,  Brooklyn. 

Edwin  W.  Sims,  Chicago. 


197 


The  White  Slave  Traffic  in  America 


Anna  Garlin  Spencer,  New  York. 

Elisabeth  Stover,  New  York,  Secretary. 

Dr.  Joseph  Swain,  Swarthmore,  Pa. 

Henry  W.  Wilbur,  Philadelphia. 

Talcott  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Robert  N.  Willson,  Philadelphia. 

Simon  Wolf,  Washington. 

Prof.  Thomas  Wood,  New  York. 

Corresponding  members  in  every  State  and  the 
Canal  Zone. 


Chairman:  Dr.  O.  Edward  Janney. 

Secretary:  Elisabeth  Stover. 

Treasurer:  Seneca  P.  Brdomell. 

Librarian:  Marion  E.  Dodd. 

New  York  Office : 156  Fifth  Avenue,  Room  529. 


198 


INDEX 


AlBdavit  of  Inspector,  32 
Agencies,  Emploj'ment,  102 
Agencies,  Emplojinent,  Law,  193 
Alcohol,  Effect  of,  97,  99,  120 
Am.  Purity  Federation,  116 
Appleton,  Chas.  W.,  56 
Am.  Soc.  of  Social  Hygiene,  117 
.Amusements,  97 
Andrews,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  43 

Bakersfield,  Cal.,  44 
Baltimore,  132 
Baptist  Conference,  117 
Bloomington,  111.,  87 
Boston,  87 

B’nai  13’rith  Society,  116 
Braun,  Inspector  Marcus,  31 
Bushnell,  Dr.  Katharine,  43 

California,  43 

Cameron.  Miss  Donaldena,  45 
Charleston.  111.,  87 
Chicago,  87,  90,  119,  132 
Chinese  Girls,  45 
Cincinnati,  132 
Commission  Government,  152 
Commission,  Vice,  71 
Committee  of  Fourteen,  80,  100 
Committee,  Nat’l  Vigilance,  122 
Congress,  international,  at  Mad- 
rid, 127 

Coote,  Wm.  Alexander,  124 
Council  of  Jewish  Women,  118 
Cribs,  41 

Dance-halls,  30 
Davenport,  Iowa,  87 
Debt,  Slavery  from,  3S 
Denver,  132 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  148 
Detroit,  Mich.,  87 
Diseases,  Social,  52 
Dodge,  Miss  Grace  H.,  122 

Earnings,  38 
Enquirer,  Oakland,  42 
Evening  Post,  65 


Evening  Post,  Editorial,  71 
Excursions,  98 

Federal  Law,  126,  137,  171 
Fresno,  Cal.,  44 

Grand  Jury,  N.  Y.,  55,  129 
Grand  Jury,  Recommendations, 
70 

Grand  Jury,  N.  Y.,  Report,  66 
Grange,  The,  117 

Hamery,  J.  L.,  148 
Heathen  Slaves  and  Christian 
Rulers,  43 

Housing,  Effect  of,  81 
Howell-Bennet  Act,  The,  169 

Ice  Cream  Saloons,  99 
Ide,  Henry  B.,  127 
Immigration  Act,  145,  169 
Immigration  Commission,  15,  20, 
28,  109,  136 

Immigration,  Effects  of,  106,  145 
Instruction,  Need  of,  83 
International  Bureau,  The,  117 
Iowa  Acts,  182,  188 
Israels,  Mrs.  Belle  L.,  161 

Janney,  Dr.  O.  Edward,  124,  127 
Japanese  Girls,  45 

Keefe,  Daniel  J.,  31 

Law  on  Employment  Agencies, 
193 

Law,  Federal  White  Slave,  126, 
137,  171 

Law,  The  Model,  139,  178 
Law  in  California,  139 
Law  in  Colorado,  K9 
Law  in  Connecticut,  139 
Law  in  Dakota,  North,  139 
Law  in  Dakota,  South,  139 
Law  in  Dist.  of  Col.,  126,  133 
Law  in  Illinois,  139 
Law  in  Iowa,  139,  153,  182 
Law  in  Louisiana,  140 


199 


Index 


Law  in  Maryland,  140 

Law  in  Massachusetts,  140 

Law  in  Minnesota,  139 

Law  in  New  Jersey,  140 

Law  in  New  York,  139,  140 

Law  in  Ohio,  140 

Law  in  Oklahoma,  140 

Law  in  Pennsylvania,  139 

Law  in  Rhode  Island,  140 

Law  in  Virginia,  140 

Law  in  Washington,  139 

Les  Amies  de  la  Jeune  Fille,  117 

Library,  Vigilance,  128 

Liquor,  Use  of,  97,  99,  120 

Literature,  Improper,  85 

Livonia,  Pa.,  87 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  44 

Lurton,  Justice  H.  G.,  153 

McClure’s  Magazine,  55 
Manicure  Parlors,  67,  70 
Marriage,  24,  132 
Massage  Rooms,  67,  70,  99 
Methodist  Conference,  117 
Methods  of  Procurers,  29,  37,  38, 
65,  98,  99,  102,  104 
Milwaukee,  87 
Model  Law,  The,  139,  178 
Modista,  Cal.,  44 
Moline,  111.,  87 
Money  Invested,  32 
Montreal,  87 

Morrow,  Dr.  Prince  A.,  54 
Moving-picture  Shows,  66,  70,  98 
Muskeegon,  87 

National  Council  of  Jew.  Women, 
118 

National  Federation  of  Women’s 
Clubs,  117 

National  Florence  Crit.  Mission, 
116 

National  Vigilance  Committee, 
122 

New  Haven,  132 
New  Orleans,  132 
New  York  City,  87,  132 
New  York  Indep.  Benevolent  As- 
soc’n,  62 
Norfolk.  Va.,  102 

Oakland,  Cal.,  44 
O'Sullivan,  Judge,  55 


Pacific  Coast,  The,  41 
Parents,  Neglect  of,  84 
Parkin,  Harry  A.,  39,  87 
Pentz,  Samuel  E.,  131 
Peoria,  111.,  87 
Philadelphia,  132 
Pittsburgh,  87,  132 
Politics,  Influence  of,  104,  147 
Poverty,  Influence  of,  81 
Presentment  of  Grand  Jury,  56 
Procurers,  29,  37,  38,  65,  98,  99, 
102,  104 

Procurers,  Women,  29 

Raines-Law  Hotels,  67,  100,  195 
Recreation,  Effect  of,  159 
Reynolds,  Jas.  Bronson,  56,  73, 
155 

Rockefeller,  John  D.,  Jr.,  56 
Roe,  Clifford  G.,  25,  92,  119,  131 
Roosevelt,  President,  125,  134, 
142 

Restaurants,  Use  of,  99 

Sacramento,  Cal.,  44 
San  Diego,  Cal.,  44 
San  Francisco,  44,  132 
Seattle,  Wash.,  102.  132 
Sims,  Edwin  W.,  17,  33 
Society  of  Friends,  The,  117 
Society  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty 
to  Children,  Report  of,  66 
Societies,  Religious  and  Reform, 
116 

States  and  the  Traffic,  126 
Steerage  Conditions,  109,  146 
Stewart,  Chief  of  Police,  119 
Stewart,  Judge  .A.  K. , 149 
St.  Louis,  87,  132 
Stockton,  Cal.,  44 
Straus,  Hon.  Oscar  L.,  134 
Supreme  Court  Decision,  135,  138 

Taft,  President  W.  H.,  135 
Tenement  House  Conditions,  81 
Theatre  Plan’s,  98 
Toledo,  Ohio,  87 
Tongs,  Chinese,  42 
Travellers’  Aid  Society,  117 
Treatv,  International  White 
Slave.  142.  165 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  87 
Turner,  Geo.  Kibbe,  55 


200 


Index 


U.  S.  Immigration  Commission, 
15,  20,  28,  109,  136 

Vigilance  Com.,  Nat’l,  122,  197 
Vigilance,  Monthly,  130 

Wages,  Influence  of,  93,  156 
Waseka,  Minn.,  87 
Washington  City,  92 
Washington,  State  of,  139 


Watsonville,  Cal.,  44 
White  Slave  TrafBc  Act,  The,  171 
Whitehall,  Mich.,  87 
Whitman,  Chas.  S.,  56 
Woman’s  C.  T.  Union,  116 
Working  Girls’  Budgets,  94 

Young  Women’s  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, 117 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  87 


201 


A Journal  of  Moral  Education  and  the 
Vigilance  Movement 


PUBLISHED  MONTHLY 


Fifty  Cents  a Year 


156  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 


